December 29, 2007

It is so hard to believe that I have been home for two weeks now. In many ways it feels like it has been AT LEAST a month. I miss Maya so much. I miss her smile and her giggle and feeding her her bottles and tickling her and dressing her in cute little clothes. Believe it or not I actually even miss changing diapers and waking up in the middle of the night to feed her. I have been doing OK and managed to make it through Christmas but for some reason last night was a the hardest night I have had since I have been home. It may just be because I finally had a moment to slow done or it could be because it was 2 weeks ago yesterday that she went back to her foster mother or it could have been that I finally got the Medical update from her December 3rd doctor visit. This was not new information as I was told it all verbally at the visit but still it was "news" I got via email yesterday. But I guess the bottom line is that I am her mommy and I miss her so much right now.
I did get to have some fun this morning as my friend Michele and I went to Babies R Us and I registered for all kinds of things for her. I LOVE her Bedding/Room decor! It is called Sugar Plum and it has LOTS of purple and pinks and butterfly's! It is beautiful. Next things on the "to do" list is to get the room done. I think I am going to doing some painting (of walls and furniture) and I am also getting new carpet put in the room. I can't wait to see everything come together. Thank you Michele for going with me and helping me know what all I needed to register for.
The most common question I get is "When do you get to bring Maya home?" The answer is still "I don't know" but I am making my best guess as the end of February or March. I am STILL in PGN but hope to get out soon. Once I get out of PGN, it will be 6-8 weeks later that I will travel to pick her up. In that 6-8 weeks the US Embassy is taking care of their paperwork, getting her a new birth certificate with my last name on it, doing the 2nd DNA test and setting the Embassy appt date. So as soon as I am out of PGN the 6-8 week countdown will start!
I think that is all for now. I hope you all have a wonderful New Years Eve and a blessed New Year.
Maya, mommy loves you so much! I wish so badly that I could be holding you right now but I know you will be home in God's perfect timing! May God continue to keep you healthy and happy. May we both be comforted in the last weeks as we wait to be united together as a FOREVER family! I love you!!!!

December Trip Pictures

December Trip Pictures

December 14, 2007

Wow, what a week and a half! Maya is absolutly the best little girl in the world. I have had so much fun with her. She went back with her foster mother about an hour ago and I am very sad now. We had a great day today. We had fun taking a bath together and splashing in the water, then we watched some spanish cartoons, then we walked around the hotel to get some fresh air, and of course all this was accompanied by lots of hugs and kisses. She took a little nap on our walk and everyone that saw her said she is "muy linda" which means "too cute." Of course they said that every day not just today. Maya wore a Christmas pajama outfit today that said "I love Santa" on the front of it. I know it isn't Christmas yet but I just had to see her in it and of course she was adorable. I can't upload any pictures now but hopefully in the next week or so I will be able to post more pictures. Please pray for Maya as she adjusts to being back with her foster mother and for me as I adjust to not having Maya with me. I know she is so well taken care of by her foster family. I met her foster mother's oldest daughter today and she was very nice. I can tell her whole family loves Maya. That is a good feeling!
Maya, I miss you already. I love you so very much and I can not wait until we see one another again. May God continue to bless both of us and all those around us. I love you. Mommy

December 10, 2007 Pictures

December 10, 2007

Hello! Well I had hoped to write more and sooner but I just haven't had a lot of time. Maya is so much fun and is just as adorable as her pictures. I got to Guatemala the evening of December 4th and they brought Maya to me about 11:00am on the 5th. Her foster mother and a representative of my Attorneys office came to the hotel with Maya. Her foster mother is very sweet and loves Maya a lot. I could tell it was hard for her foster mother to leave her but she was very sweet and said she could tell that Maya knew me from my pictures and felt comfortable with me so she was sure she would be happy with me. The first day Maya did NOT want me to put her down for anything! She fell asleep twice in my arms and the second I tried to lay her down she would wake up. As long as I was holding her she would sleep. So I held her for about 10 hours straight with the exception of about 30 seconds where she cried while I went to the bathroom. I was nervous for the evening not knowing how we woud sleep since I couldn't put her down but she managed to lay next to me and slept really well. Thursday we spent a lot of time in the room because the hotel was out of strollers and she is really heavy (19.8 pounds as of the 3rd). But we had a lot of fun playing together. We were able to get a stroller on Friday morning and we had fun exploring the hotel for a couple hours. She LOVES the stroller and so do I. It was a life saver! When not strolling we play in the room. She can roll over but she was not sitting up or bearing weight on her legs but both of these have gotten better the longer I am here (we do baby exercises). I have learned that babies are held A LOT here so they do not crawl and walk as early as in America. But she is a good roller and I am sure she will catch up fast when she is home with me. She is already sitting up better and pulling up (when you hold her hands) and she has started to bear weight on her legs a little. She is a great eater too. I don't think I have given her anything she hasn't liked; however, I don't think the applesauce liked her. She pretty much drinks formula, eats baby oatmeal, and baby food bananas. We gave her peaches today and we got a nice big yucky overflowing diaper late morning. :-) My mom got here late Friday night and has spent the weekend with us. She leaves in the morning (Tuesday) but Maya has had a lot of fun with her. Yesterday they played in the bath tub together and Maya loved the water. I had given her a bath in the baby bath on Thursday night and she did not like that at all but the bath tub she definately likes!
I have met a lot of couples here that have come to visit or pick up there children and everyone is just so nice. The first couple I met was kind enough to give me some baby food for Maya since the foster mother had only brought formula. They were also kind enough to help me give Maya her first bath. Maya and I were able to eat a few meals with another couple (and we got their stroller when they where going home). Another couple gave us all there extra bottled water when they left. It is fun talking to others and hearing where they are in the process. I found out on Friday that I am BACK IN PGN as of the 5th. So please pray it will go fast. Once I exit PGN, I will have about 6-8 weeks before coming to pick her up.
Maya is napping now so I am going to go and get cleaned up while mom can still watch her for me. Take care and please keep us in your prayers. Mom leaves in the morning and Maya goes back to her foster mother on Friday. I come home on Saturday.
Sleep tight Maya, mommy loves you!

November 30, 2007

Still not back in PGN. I spoke to my caseworker today and he said that the Mayor still has not signed off on the birth certificate but supposedly my attorney's office has called and spoken to the Mayors office and it should be ready on Monday to be picked up so maybe when I arrive in Guatemala, I will hear I am back in PGN. Please pray for that to happen!
The exciting news is that I leave in 4 days and in 5 days I will have Maya in my arms! I can hardly stand it. I think the only thing keeping me from not going nuts is all that I have to do between now and then. I made a list in hopes it would make me feel better to get it out of my head and on paper but all it did was make me panick about what all I have to do. :-) So I will sign out and go about getting things marked off my list. I hope to be able to update my blog while I am in Guatemala so check back often.
I Love You Maya. I will see you real soon.

November 21, 2007

More waiting... It had been hoped that the amendments to the Ortega Law would have been passed in Guatemala yesterday but the Prensa Libre (A Guatemalan paper) is reporting that the amendments are still pending. They said:

"Despite the fact that all parties agree on the urgency of adopting a law on adoptions, and already agreed to the amendments to the initiative which is being discussed in Congress, final approval is still not included in the legislative agenda."

I do believe it will all work out but it sure is hard going through all the emotional ups and downs while waiting for the final word. I spoke to my caseworker yesterday and I am still not back in PGN. They hope to have the birth certificate issue resolved today and then reenter PGN soon. The good news is that I leave in 13 days to go meet my daughter! Now that is something to be THANKFUL for. I love you Maya!

November 19, 2007

Time for a new update and pictures...Maya just keeps growing and growing. She is now 18.8 pounds. She is so obviously well taken care of. I am so thankful for her birth mother who chose to place her for adoption and her foster mother who loves her and is taking good care of her. Maya is one blessed little girl and I am so blessed to have her as my daughter. I leave in 15 days to go see her. I am so excited and I am getting a little overwhelmed preparing for the visit but I can't wait! Maya, I can't believe you are 6 1/2 months old and I have not met you in person yet. Time is almost here though. I love you!!!

New Pictures

November 16, 2007

We'll the Guatemalan government has not voted on the amendments as of yet. They are now saying they will vote on things next week. We think this will occur on the 20th. Please continue to pray that amendments will pass to allow in process adoptions to finish.
I leave in 19 days to go see Maya! I just can't wait to go!

November 7, 2007

I got a "Previo." This means I was (temporarily) kicked out of PGN. Apparently whoever signed Maya's Guatemalan birth certificate did something wrong so now my attorney has to go back to the city she was born in and the Mayor has to sign off on it. They estimate this will take 2 weeks and then I will be resubmitted back to PGN. The good news is at least someone was looking at the file in PGN and it wasn't just sitting on a desk in no mans land. Please pray for a speedy resubmit and no more previos.
Also please remember to pray that amendments are made to the Ortega Law that will allow all in process adoptions to complete. It is anticipated that these will be discussed next week and potentially voted on in the November 14th (one week from today) congress session in Guatemala.
I can't wait to meet you Maya. I leave in 27 days to come see you. I love you!

October 19, 2007

More good news. I heard from my case worker that they have received my package for Maya in Guatemala. It only took 45 days. Wow! I am just glad to know it actually arrived. I was sure it was never going to be delivered. 44 days until I leave to see Maya. That is less time then it took for the package to arrive. :-)

October 18, 2007

I got the best birthday present ever today. I am entering PGN today!!! I am so excited. Pray for a quick "out" with no "kickouts."

October 17, 2007

I LOVE NEW PICTURES!!!

These are Maya's 5 month old pictures. She is now up to 17 pounds and looks very healthy. Nothing new on the situation in Guatemala. Rumor is that the Guatemala Congress will reveiw the proposed amendments on November 14th (after the November 4th elections). Keep praying. 48 days until I leave to visit Maya!!!

October 5, 2007

I just had to tell all of you that I was pretty down last night with all that is going on in Guatemala. It was strange because I still believe Maya will come home to me but last night was the first time I thought, "Well, maybe she won't come home to me." This made me so sad and mad. I haven't slept well the last two nights (due to coughing from allergies) so I was laying in bed, tearful, and praying that God would give me a sign that everything would be OK and Maya will be home with me. So today I came into work and got an email from a friend that was a poem (just to me not a chain poem) about how God is here and working for me. Then I just read on the JCICS website that the JCICS and the US DOS and the Hague 'people' are all supporting an amendment to the Ortega Law that will allow in process adoption be completed. UNICEF is still NOT supporting it and there are still no answers but I feel like God said to me "I am here and I am working on it. Be patient and Maya WILL be home with you."

October 4, 2007

Maya is 5 months old today! I love you, Maya!
I KNOW THIS IS LONG BUT PLEASE READ IT ALL! THIS VERY MUCH WILL AFFECT IF MAYA EVER COMES HOME!!!!
More bad news but this is REALLY bad!!! The Ortega Law was passed yesterday in Guatemala. it appears as though next week congress will go through a detailed, point by point, reading of it where ammendments can be made. It is my understanding that among proposed ammendments are a "grandfather clause" as well as a "delayed implementation date". However, no one is certain on those two items. It has also been rumored that this process will actually NOT happen next week and may not happen until after the November 4th elections. but since NO ONE thought this law would even be addressed until AFTER the election (and it has already been passed), it is important that we act now. If this law passes as is, there is NO clause in it to allow current in-process adoptions to continue. In addition, it does not allow singles to adopt. That could mean Maya will NEVER come home to me! PLEASE READ BELOW AND HELP NOW. You can also read more from last week on my Blog from September 25th to now.

The JCICS initiative called for actions next week. Next week is TOO LATE. Our information about the Ortega Law in Congress was incomplete and we believed that the Adoption Law would not be voted on before the run off on November 4. Now there are TWO THINGS which must be done immediately: ALL adoptive families in process and their supporters must be notified to contact their congressional representatives on Thursday (4th) and Friday (5th) (by email, faxed letters and telephone calls) and ask them to urge the Department of State to assure that a grandfather clause is in place which allows every adoption to be completed under the law it started under. At the same time, Senators and Congressional Reps should be aware that our Department of State has urged the Guatemalan Congress to pass an adoption law which offers no plan for (1)funding adequately (2) child care (3) services to pregnant women and vulnerable children and that the Guatemalan Congress will be discussing amendments on Tuesday Oct.9 -- the DOS should encourage - with the same energy with which they encouraged the passage of this law -- amendments which include a realistic funding plan, child care plan, and prenatal, natal and postnatal services as well as a realistic way for existing child care facilities to be able to care for the children in their care (funding). Families should call and fax the Department of State directly to urge support for amendments which could make this law more functional, as well as advocate for a grandfather clause and a delayed date for the law taking effect, so that fewer children will be at risk. There are many letters, petitions, and links to Congress and the DOS on www.guatadopt. com (under Campaign Clearinghouse)

October 2, 2007

PICTURES ARE HERE!!! PICTURES ARE HERE!!!

Maya, you are absolutely beautiful. I can not wait to see you in person. You are perfect in every way. I love you so much.

These pictures are from Maya's doctor appointment on September 1, 2007. She weighed 16 pounds and is 25.59 inches long. Her head circumference is 16.14 inches. This puts her in the 80-85th percentile across the board. She also got 4 more shots at this visit. :-(

She should have her October doctor visit any day now so hopefully I'll get newer pictures in the next week or so.

September 28, 2007

GREAT NEWS!!!! I got Pre-Approval today! YEAH! One more step closer to bringing Maya home. This happened about 14 days before I thought it would. It is so nice to see something happen faster than anticipated. The next step is PGN but I can not enter PGN until my attorney gets a copy of the Social Work interview. This was done in Guatemala before September 6th but it has not yet been written up. Pray we get that next week and that I enter PGN within the next 2 weeks (I'm trying to be realistic).
By the way... I have been told that the web address is incorrect for the petition. It is actually:http://www.petitiononline.com/foafoa1/petition.html
I have tried to fix the earlier post but my changes aren't coming up. There were a couple extra spaces in the address but otherwise it is correct.

September 28, 2007

GOOD NEWS!
I am going to go on a visit trip to meet Maya in December! I am so excited. I know things are crazy and scary right now but it is so exciting to know that in just a little over 2 months I will get to spend 10 days with Maya. Maya is 21 weeks old today! Thank you Lord for this ray of sunshine! I Love You Maya!

September 28, 2007

2 Corinthians 4:8-9
We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

Wow, there is a lot going on within the international adoption community right now. It is all very scary and I could in an instant be in tears and feel abandoned. But I know that God has a plan here and I have to ride it out. I have to keep my faith and know that God's Will will be done here. I have emailed many of you and asked you to contact your government officials and I have been blessed to hear from many of you that you will do this. If you don't mind, I would love to have you email or mail me copies of your letters so that I can put them in Maya's scrapbook so that one day she will be able to know how may people fought to bring her home.

The Joint Council on International Childresn Services has recently sent out this email as a call to action. This intiative is called the Guatemala 500 initiative in reference to the 5000 children that will be left in foster homes or orphanages indefinately is adoptions are stopped. Here is the article:
Link: http://www.jcics.org/Guatemala5000.htm
Dear Friends,
Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to suspend all intercountry adoption with American families on January 1, 2008. Joint Council strongly opposes such a suspension and asks for your support in our efforts to ensure that all children retain the right to permanency through Intercountry Adoption. President Berger's plans also call for the suspension of adoptions currently in-process. Such a suspension would be extremely detrimental to the children referred to adoptive parents. If President Berger's plan is actually implemented, up to 5,000 will unnecessarily remain in foster care or orphanages indefinitely. This situation represents a pending crisis for the adoptive families who have lovingly chosen to provide permanency, safety and love to a child in need and most importantly a crisis for 5,000 children of Guatemala.
What can you do? Make six simple phone calls and one email. 1. Call your U.S. Senator. • You can find your Senators' phone numbers at http://www.senate.gov/ • Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff. 2. Call your second U.S. Senator. 3. Call your representative to the U.S. House of Representative. • You can find your representative at http://www.house.gov/ • Ask to speak with the Legislative Director or Chief of Staff. 4. Call or fax the Department of State's Office of Children's Issues • Their number is 202-736-9130 • Their fax number is 202-736-9080 5. Call or fax UNICEF Headquarter • Ask to speak with Ann Veneman, Executive Director • Their number is 212-326-7000 • Their fax number is 212-326-7758 6. Call or fax UNICEF Guatemala • Ask to speak with Manuel Manrique • Their number is 011-502-2327- 6373 • Their fax number is 011-502-2327. 6366 7. Send and email supporting Intercountry Adoption to guatemala5000@ • Write briefly or at length • Joint Council will use the cumulative email petition in our advocacy for Intercountry Adoption.
When should you call? Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday (October 8th,> 9th 10th) • For maximum affect, we are asking you to make these calls within a 72 hour window!
What should you say? Speak from your heart and give them the following information. • The Guatemalan government has announced that all adoptions with the U.S. will be suspended on January 1 2008. • Their announcement also indicated that there will be no `grandfathering' of adoptions already in process. • If children referred to families are not allowed to be adopted, they will languish in institutions or foster care. • Your office must get involved and sign the CCAI sponsored letters to the President of Guatemala and UNICEF. These letters ask that all adoptions in-process as of January 1 2008 be allowed to processed to completion under the existing notorial laws. • Your office should contact the Office of Children's Issues at the Department of State. Their number is 202-736-9130.
Can you explain the problem behind the pending crisis? Here is some additional information…
• Guatemalan President Oscar Berger has announced plans to effectively stop all adoptions into the United States including those children who have already been referred to adoptive parents
• Over 5,000 children have been referred
• The birthparents for these children have already relinquished their parental rights. As a result, they currently have no family and the Berger suspension will result in these children having no prospect for a permanent, safe and loving family
• The government of Guatemala currently does not have the finances or facilities to even provide housing for these 5,000> children • The Berger plan is a crisis waiting to happen!

There is also an online petition I am asking everyone to sign.
Please sign this petition authored by Hannah Wallace in response to the most recent DOS warning. http://www.petitiononline.com/foafoa1/petition.html

Finally, but most importantly, please pray! Pray for Maya and all the other children whose lives are in danger if President Berger gets his way. Pray for the children who are in process of adoption that they will come home to their forever families sooner rather than later (or not at all). Pray also that people will look into UNICEF and all the TERRIBLE things they support. Pray for media coverage to uncover these issues. Pray for the adoptive parents that they remain strong. Pray that the US will support their citizens and step in to help here.

If you are interested in reading more go to:
http://www.guatadopt.com/
www.adaguatemala.org/English/news/
http://www.jcics.org/

September 26, 2007

Hi everyone, I wanted to let you know about some things going on with adoptions in Guatemala and ask for your help. The DOS (Department of State) issued a "warning" yesterday that is absolutely frightening for those of us currently in process and those thinking about starting the adoption process in Guatemala at this time. This "warning" can be read at: http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/country/country_389.html The focus on adoption group wrote a response to this warning and it can be read at: http://www.adaguatemala.org/English/news/
In short, the DOS has stated that they will not protect the interests of those of of in process of adopting if Guatemala shuts downs adoptions in January. I must admit that this is a big political mess and it is scary to think that my daughters home coming may temporarily or permanently be delayed because of all this. I have written my senators, congressman, and President Bush about this matter and would appreciate you doing the same, if you feel so led. Unfortunately, I do not think anything will be done unless people let our government know how important this is. There are many children in Guatemala that will literally be left to die if certain laws currently being considered are passed!! Please help to save these children and bring Maya home to me. Please help me ask our government: Why is DOS ignoring the clear requirements of the Convention? Why is DOS failing to protect the interests of Americans who have undertaken a process in good faith? Why is DOS failing its mandate under the Convention to ensure that adoptions proceed expeditiously and according to the terms of existing law? Why is DOS supporting passage of a law which will hinder adoptions and place children in jeopardy?
Please write to your two U.S. Senators, your U.S. Congressperson, the President of the United States, and directly to DOS. Hold DOS accountable. You can find your US Senators and Representatives at http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/ You can write to DOS at: Main address: U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, DC 20520 Main Switchboard: 202-647-4000
It takes less than 10 minutes to potentially make a HUGE difference. Thank you! Tiffany

September 18, 2007

Good News! I got my letter to be re-fingerprinted. It was in my mailbox last night when I got home so I went this morning and got my fingerprints done. Yeah!!! One more step forward...

September 17, 2007

Just a quick note to say I still have not received any new pictures or the medical update. Maya should have had her doctor appt. 2 weeks ago and that is when the pictures are taken too. It is really hard to be patient when you know the information is sitting at the attorneys office waiting for someone to have the time to email it to the adoption agency so they can email it to me. Hopefully, I will get something soon.
I am still working on getting re-fingerprinted. I finally reached someone (via email) at the Oklahoma City office and I think I should be getting my fingerprinting appointment in the mail anytime now. I had asked to have it faxed to me but haven't received anything yet.
As for the Guatemala election, there is going to be a runoff election in December for 2 of the candidates. I think that is it for now. Please remember to keep praying that Maya is home for Christmas. I know it is not likely if I only look at adoption boards and how old babies are when they are coming home now but I also now that God will bring her home at just the right time and I am praying that is Christmas. :-)

September 7, 2007

Happy Birthday Maya. You are 18 weeks old today!

No new pictures or medical update as of yet. I guess it will be next week (hopefully). This weekend is the Presidential Election in Guatemala and they have implemented a holiday on Monday due to that. This election could be very important for the status of future adoptions as the current president is anti-adoption and causing a lot of trouble. Please pray for good news for adoptions. Then Friday the 14th is Gautemala's Independence Day so all offices are closed again. So it looks like I have Tuesday through Thursday to possibly receive new pictures.

Here is an update on the situation in Guatemala regarding adoptions. It is all really scary and makes me remember just how up the air things really are. I know this is long but I want everyone to have the information and be in prayer that I will be able to bring Maya home as soon as possible. I don't know how people who don't believe in God survive adoption...the WHOLE process is such an act of Faith.

Mr. Tom DiFilipo, President of the Joint Council for International Children's Services (JCICS) sent this message out to all JCICS member agencies
"Dear Colleagues,
The right to permanency through intercountry adoption continues to be challenged by a variety of factors in Guatemala. Hague implementation, competing legislative initiatives, nation wide elections, government raids on social service providers, negative press, ethics concerns and pressure from the international community, all give the immediate future of ICA in Guatemala a very unstable and uncertain platform. Given the increasing uncertainties and in assessing the current and future environment within the Guatemalan adoption arena, Joint Council again strongly recommends that all adoption service providers reassess their programming efforts within the following context.
1. The Guatemalan Congress reaffirmed the Hague Convention with an effective date of January 1, 2008.
2. The Berger administration continues to demonstrate a desire to significantly alter or eliminate intercountry adoption; most recently demonstrated through the raid on Casa Quivira.
3. The Berger administration leaves office on January 14, 2008, 13 days after the Hague Convention goes into force in Guatemala.
4. Based on the aggressive posture demonstrated by the Berger administration and the 13 day window, the possibility exists that the Berger administration may attempt to alter the ICA process.
5. The Guatemalan congress is currently reviewing adoption legislation, most specifically 3217 (with the changes recommended through the technical assistance provided by the Hague Permanent Bureau and other governments such as Colombia). Passage of this legislation, while not assured, would none the less significantly alter the current ICA process. Current cases in the Guatemalan process may or may not be "grandfathered" and it remains an uncertain issue.
6. While the `grandfather' clause in the US IAA does provide for the completion of `pipeline' cases, it does not provide any protection against significant changes to the Guatemalan ICA process.
7. Client families who have applied with USCIS can have their cases transferred to another country program. The significant risks to agencies, families and children begin when the referral is made and accepted.
It can be noted that current efforts include amendments to both 3536 and 3217 providing for a continuation of the current ICA process (a `grandfather clause'); however this assumes that either piece of legislation is actually passed by Congress. It can also be noted that separate legislation could be introduced which would extend the effective date of the Hague Convention for a specific period of time (i.e. 30-90 days).
In assessing this information, one can easily draw the conclusion that the Guatemalan ICA process will be significantly altered as early as January 2008 and no later than March 2008. Assuming that most adoptions from referral to finalization can easily exceed 6 months and in some cases extend over 12 months, it can be concluded that referrals issued in the third and fourth quarters of 2007 may face a very uncertain conclusion.
Of significant concern is the potential for unresolved pipeline cases. USCIS reports no slow down in new applications. Through July, I-600A applications continue at over 400 per month with most being identified with a small percentage of agencies.
It is not outside the realm of possibilities that should this pace continue, over 2,000 cases may be unable to proceed to completion. This leads to yet another concern related to an adoption service provider's capacity to sustain services to children and adoptive parents over a prolonged period which may include legal challenges. It is the recommendation of Joint Council that all agencies again reassess their programming and take the appropriate action to minimize your organizational liabilities, to avoid the problems seen in Cambodia, Romania and recently in Nepal and most importantly to safeguard the best interest of client-families, birthparents and the children we serve.
In a related matter, Joint Council, with the cooperation and support of the Joint Council Guatemala Caucus, issued a letter to President Berger regarding our significant concerns over the recent raid of Casa Quivera. Joint Council called for an immediate halt to such raids, a transparent accounting of all children and the prompt resolution of each case."

September 6, 2007 (still)

I didn't get any pictures today so maybe tomorrow. I did speak to my caseworker today and found out that the social worker interview is done (the attorney just doesn't have it yet) and I have officially exited Family Court. We don't know exact dates of when these things occurred but at least they are done. At this point we are waiting on "Preapproval." I don't expect this until after October 10th as it is taking about 60 days from the time DNA is done to the time you get "preapproval." Once I get preapproval, I will move onto the PGN phase.

September 6, 2007

Yesterday was another leap of faith as I mailed a package to Maya. I bought her 2 outfits; a big soft toy that has a variety of colors and textures, and noises; and a kid photo album that is soft and chewable that has my picture and pictures of family and friends inside. Then I included 3 disposable cameras for the foster mom to take pictures with, a letter for the foster mom, and a letter to the attorney. The package is mailed to the attorney and then she gets it to the foster mother. I went to the post office to mail the package yesterday and this is where the leap of faith comes in...I asked to have the package signed for in Guatemala and that is not possible when mailing things to Guatemala. At first he said I would have to send it registered mail instead of Priority mail to be able to have someone sign for it but then when he looked up the cost for that we learned Guatemala does not take registered mail. Then he said I could insure the package and be able to track it but when he looked that up he said Guatemala does not insure packages. Then I had to fill out a customs form and list every item in the package and the value of the items in the package. Then this form was taped to the bottom for all to see and apparently US customs and Guatemala customs take these forms out and mark on them as the go through different check points. So here I have mailed a package to a country that does not let you insure or track anything and I have told exactly what is in the package and I know Guatemala in known for packages not arriving at there destinations ever. I fell like I have "STUPID" written across my forehead. At least right now, I am laughing about it. Please pray with me that the package will arrive as it is scheduled to. It should arrive in 7-10 days.

As for the re-fingerprinting, I'm still trying to figure that out. I have sent an email to Oklahoma City becasue that is where the appointments are being scheduled from now. Apparently, the Dallas office doesn't exist now. Pray I hear from Oklahoma asap.

I love you Maya!

September 1, 2007

Yesterday Maya was 17 weeks old! It is so hard to believe that so much time has passed already. I guess overall that is good (that it is going fast). However, I have to say that yesterday I was extremely frustrated over "just one more detail." To back up a bit, last year when I started the process I had to complete certain steps through USCIS (aka: Immigration). I had to fill out an I-600A, get fingerprinted, and wait on my I171H. This is all part of the steps that are required to legally adopt internationally and bring a child home to the US. Well, believe it or not, Fingerprints expire! Yes, after 15 months I have to be re-fingerprinted! What is up with that?My fingerprints don't change! So why is it that they have us go through 1 more step! Can't ANYTHING be simple!!!!! So at the beginning of July I asked my caseworker when and what I need to do to get my fingerprints updated. He told me that 30 days prior to them expiring (they expire Oct. 8th) I need to go to the USCIS website and make an appt. to get them re-done. Well with next week being the 30 day mark, I went to the website on Thursday and could not understand a thing. So I called customer service for USCIS and they told me "Oh mam, this is an emergency so you need to go to the same place you went last time and tell them you don't have an appt. but could they please help you get this done." Well let me tell you...anytime I hear the words emergency related to this adoption, it is not a good thing! So first thing Friday morning I went to the office in Ft. Worth that did my fingerprints the first time and the guy tells me they can not take anyone without an appt. and when the fingerprints expire I will get a notice in the mail of when I need to have them done. I told him what the guy at the customer service line said and so he went to go get his supervisor. She very politely told me that they do not do fingerprints without appointments and I need to go through whomever I did the first time to set up another appointment. That sounds easy but I did not "go through someone before" I just filled out a form and the appt. was mailed to me. Of course I don't have or need the type of form I filled out the first time so I can't do it that way this time. I then told her what the customer service person said and she said "I really wish they wouldn't take these calls because they don't know the answers... they just deal with immigration." I asked her for a number of someone to call and all she said again was "call whoever you used before." HELLO, did you not hear me...I did not use someone before!!! I told her there are no other numbers but Customer Service listed on the website. She said "I know" and I said "and you will not give me any ones number to call" and she said "I know." I said "So what am I supposed to do?" She said "go to the office in Dallas and have them schedule an appointment for you." I looked at her (after she gave me the address) and said "So what you are telling me is that I took off work for nothing, you can not help me and I need to go to Dallas (but not today because it is a holiday weekend) and have them schedule a time for me to come back here to be refingerprinted." she said "Yes." "So even though my fingerprints expire in 30 days and I have found out that I should have started this process earlier you can not help me. Now my fingerprints will expire, my paperwork in Guatemala will be delayed and my daughter will have to wait to come home with me!" AND MY FINGERPRINTS HAVE NOT CHANGED IN THE LAST 15 MONTHS!!! How frustrating!!! Now I have left a message for my caseworker but he was out of the office yesterday so I have to wait until next week to talk to him about all this. AUGH!

August 10, 2007

IT'S A MATCH!!!

I got DNA results today and it's a match! Yeah! Today Maya is 14 weeks old and I am so excited to have good news today. I have been kind of sad this week because I have learned that it is taking longer to bring babies home. While I continue to pray that Maya is home for Christmas, it is a good possibility it will be much later than that (even June or July of next year). However, I know that God is in control and He will bring her home just when she is supposed to come home.

This week there have been two new changes from the Embassy in Guatemala. The first change is that Maya (as will all adopted children) will need a flu shot and the pneumococcal vaccine before the US Embassy doctor issues her travel clearance (to come home). These vaccines are done in three doses therefore they will begin as soon as possible. Of course there is an added cost of $385.00 that I have to pay by next week.

The second change became effective August 6, 2007. The U.S. Embassy in Guatemala will require a second DNA test, to verify that the adopted child for whom an immigrant visa is being requested is the same child matched at the beginning of the adoption process with the birth parent. This will be requested by the US embassy after the final paper work is submitted by the attorney in Guatemala for pink. This will cost an additional $117.50 and will probably add an extra 2-4 weeks to the process.

So in many ways, things are the same...ever changing! I am working on getting together a care package to send to Maya and hope to have it in the mail soon. Thank you all for your continued prayers. Please help to pray her home as soon as possible. I love you Maya!

August 3, 2007

Wow, today Maya is 13 weeks old. I can not believe that is has already been 13 weeks and yet other times 13 weeks seems like FOREVER! I want to see her in person and hold her and kiss that adorable little face. I am trying to figure out if I will be able to go on a visit trip or not. Even if I just go a Thursday to a Monday it would easily cost about $1200. Then even if I can go I have to figure out when the best time to go would be. I pray she is home in December but at this point that is still up in the air. If she isn't home then, I would really like to visit her for Christmas. But I would also like to see her for my birthday and there is just no way I could afford 2 visit trips and a pick up trip. Please pray for guidance with this.

Maya had her 3 month doctor visit yesterday and these are the most recent pictures. She now weighs 14 pounds and is 23.6 inches long. Her head circumference is 15.7 inches and she got one more shot. She is doing great. She most have an awesome foster mother. I am so happy to know she is being well cared for. No new news on the DNA testing. The test was hopefully done last week on the 27th so I should hear some something in the next week or so. Stay tuned for more...

July 25, 2007

Well I had some false excitement yesterday when my caseworker told me that the Family Court interview was done and we were waiting on PA (pre-approval). Unfortunately, he was given incorrect information by the attorney's assistant. The interview is not done but the attorney is working on getting it scheduled. The DNA lab draw is scheduled for Friday (day after tomorrow). Yeah! So while it is not quite as exciting as I thought (because PA means DNA and family court interview are done and they are not done like I thought yesterday) it is still good to know progress is being made.

July 20, 2007

PICTURES ARE HERE!!!

Finally, I got the medical update and pictures from Maya's 2 month old doctor visit. Her doctor's appointment was on July 3rd and she is now up to 12 pounds! Her length is 23.2 inches long and her head circumference is 15.3 inches. She also got her first shots. YIKES! One more benefit to adoption...I don't have to see her cry when she gets these first few shots. :-(

July 17, 2007

I just got word that we entered Family Court on July 7, 2007. Yeah! While we have authorization to do DNA testing, we are still waiting for the DNA draw to be scheduled. This has to be coordinated with the foster mom, birth mom, attorney, and doctor. I think they usually try to do the lab draw the same day the social worker meets with the birth mom so that she does not have to plan numerous trips into Guatemala City. Please pray for everyones schedule to coordinate and that this will not be a heavy burden on the birth mom. I'm sure she is going through a really hard time right now.
I also found out that Maya is with a foster mother who is married and has three children ages 18, 16, and 15. The oldest is a girl and the other 2 are boys. The foster mother is also fostering another baby along with Maya. I still don't have the 2 month medical update or pictures but hopefully that will come soon.

June 27, 2007

We have DNA auth and my dossier is translated. So now in the next 30 days DNA will be drawn and then we'll get the results of that. I should also be entering family court soon. These are 2 separate things that happen about the same time. In family court, a social worker is assigned and she talks to the birthmother and the foster mother and writes a social work report. This takes 30 - 60 days. So far today, we have two steps in the right direction completed! Yeah!

June 25, 2007

Wow, what a loooonnnnnnggggg 20 days. My dossier (the big bunch of paperwork) has been processed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and is now being translated into Spanish. Still no word on DNA authorization. On June 1st, they said it would take 7-10 days and now it has been 25 days. My caseworker is on vacation until tomorrow so his supervisor is supposed to be looking into it for me to see what is taking so long. I hope to hear something today but if not, I will be calling my caseworker tomorrow. I pray everything is OK and moving forward.

June 5, 2007

I got the first medical update and new pictures today. She is doing great. As of June 1st, she weighs 9lbs 12oz and is 20 3/4 inches long. Not to mention she is even cuter now than 4 weeks ago (and I didn't think that was possible).

June 1, 2007

My paperwork has been received by the adoption agency from the Guatemalan Consulate. I am so fortunate that the Houston Consulate is the office I have to use because not all offices are that quick. The same is true for the Texas Secretary of State.
Now my dossier goes to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for them to "verify" all the authenticated documents. This process will take 7-10 days, once they receive the forms.
At the same time, authorization for the DNA testing should be given in the next 10 days or so. Once authorization is given, the DNA testing is done sometime in the next 30 days and then it will take a few weeks to get the results. Of course all these time lines are only estimates it could be longer or short time frames. I, of course, am praying for shorter times. :-)

May 29, 2007

I got my form back from the Secretary of State today and have mailed it to the Guatemalan Consulate. Pray for another quick turn around time from them. They will be mailing the form onto the agency directly. Now I wait....

May 23, 2007

I have all my forms notarized and today I mailed the agency their paperwork and mailed one document to the Secretary of State to be authenticated. When it comes back I will have to send it to the Guatemalan Consulate for authentication. One of the forms I mailed today is a form with what name I am naming her. Her name is Maya and now the foster mother can start calling her that, too.

May 21, 2007

I called my caseworker today to let him know that I accept the referral. This little girl is my daughter. I have to fill out some paperwork and get it notarized and make my first foreign fee payment. I hope to do this all in the next couple days.

May 18, 2007

FINALLY, I HAVE A REFERRAL!!!! My caseworker called me at 2:50pm today and told me about my little girl. She was born May 4, 2007. (She is two weeks old today). She was 8 pounds and 19 1/2 inches long. She is beautiful. They emailed me pictures and I am going to try and post one but that will be another technical obstacle for me:-) They have given me a week to pray about this referral and talk to whomever I need to in order to make my decision. I know this little is the one but I will take some time to let it all soak in.

May 14, 2007

I spoke to my family advocate today and I am next on the list for a referral.

May 13, 2007

Mother's Day
I don't have a referral yet and this time last year, I was so sure that would be my last Mother's Day that I was not a Mother but I am still not a mommy. I saw this poem on a yahoo group and really felt it describes me and my situation.

I am pregnant, but my tummy isn't growing, And no one ever calls me "little Mom."
The public simply isn't overflowing with questions that I'd handle with aplomb.
There are no special clothes to mark my waiting
Nobody stops and smiles as I walk by,
The absence of a due-date is frustrating
And looking at the nursery makes me cry
When I am over due no one will worry
The phone won't ring and ring as friends check in.
I can't hurry my labor in a hurry for My new life as a parent to begin
Adoption is a worrisome endeavor and waiting alone is not much fun
To be "with child" for a year seems like forever
Dear God, I'm ready!
Please send my little one.

May 10, 2007

I received my home study update report in the mail and have sent them off the the Texas Secretary of State to be Authenticated. This whole week I really thought I would get a referral but so far nothing yet.

May 1, 2007

I had my Home study update visit today. The Social Worker is very nice and said she will write up the report tomorrow so I can get it sent off for authentication as soon as possible.

April 24, 2007

The Chicago Guatemalan Consulate has authenticated their documents and the adoption agency has received them. I am getting my home study updated next week. Once that is complete, I should be done with paperwork for awhile. I spoke to my caseworker, Philip, today and he has not had any referrals lately so he hopes to get some in the next couple weeks. I am 2nd on the list so it should not take long (in the big picture) for me to get a referral but it feels like forever!

April 23, 2007

I've had several people ask me when I will get a referral? The short answer is "I don't know" but I can say that it can be anytime now. I'm at the point where every time the phone rings, I think "Is this it?" Thankfully, I have many things to keep me busy but I must admit I constantly check my email to see if there is anything new. What is crazy about that is when I get a referral it will be by phone...not email but I just want to cover all my basis. Hopefully, soon I can post that I have a referral.

April 19, 2007

The Guatemalan Consulate in Houston has sent the authenticated documents on to a Helping Hand. Now we are waiting on Chicago to send the last 2 documents.

April 13, 2007

All my dossier documents have been completed and sent to the Secretary of States in Texas, Illinois, and Michigan. I have now received all of them back authenticated and I am sending them out to their respective Consulate offices (Illinois and Texas) today.

March 13, 2007

I wanted to take a few minutes to bring you up to date on my adoption process and ask for continued prayer. Everyone always says that adoption is an emotional roller coaster and now I can honestly say that I agree with that statement 100%!!!! In February, I was able to come off hold in the adoption process. Praise God! While I still do not have all the money, I have a solid plan and feel good about moving forward. I contacted the agency on February 21st and let them know I am ready to move forward. Because I was on hold for 6 months there are several documents that I had previously completed that have to be redone. I am in process of redoing that work to have an up to date dossier. When I am done with that, I can then receive a referral (meaning I will know who my daughter will be) but it will be numerous months (6-8 on average) before I can bring her home. While this is all REALLY exciting I have heard some troubling news this past week. There are always legal and government issues surrounding adoption and there are even more in International Adoption. Well there are three pretty big issues going on in the Guatemala adoption world right now and any of them can greatly impact my adoption process. The first issue is that an American adoption facilitator in Florida was recently arrested for allegedly facilitating the entry of Guatemalan children into the U.S. on fraudulent visas for adoption by U.S. citizens (aka: child trafficking). The U.S. State Department reports that it will examine current practices in Guatemalan adoption as a whole as part of its investigation. The U.S. State Department has stated that all pending adoption cases will be more closely scrutinized by PGN and the U.S. Embassy. Families can expect to wait significantly longer for children to become eligible to enter the U.S. The U.S. State Department has not indicated how long waiting times might extend; however they did state that they are not planning an immediate shutdown of adoptions from Guatemala at this time. The next issue is related to The Hague Treaty. This is a treaty that is put in place and countries agree to go by these rules to help prevent child trafficking and ensure the safety all children, not just those being place for adoption. The U.S. is expected to ratify the treaty in late 2007 (this has been a 10 year process for the U.S.). Guatemala has not taken steps to so far to ratify the treaty and probably won’t by the end of the year (this is however just an educated guess). If the U.S. ratifies the treaty in 2007 and Guatemala does not, all Guatemalan adoptions would cease. However, the U.S. has stated that anyone who has Immigration approval prior to this time will be allowed to complete the process and will be grandfathered in. I have already completed the immigration paperwork and have that approval but just because the U.S. will most likely grandfather me in, does not mean that Guatemala would not shut down adoptions at any time. The third issue is related to something called “Protocols of Good Practice.” My understanding is that this is a piece of legislation that was written by the wife of the president of Guatemala and the vice president. The protocol seems to be both a response to the recent incident involving the American adoption facilitator and a step towards creating an infrastructure that will comply with Hague requirements. I do not know all of what it says but the immediate issue is that if it goes into effect the legislation would be contested as the executive branch is not allowed to write legislation and since this piece of legislation did not come about through the proper channels, it would be contested. If it is challenged, then adoptions would be suspended while the case is settled in court. Based on what we know, we do not believe that the Protocol will be implemented, because a majority in Congress has to sign off on it and a majority is reported to be against it. So needless to say the state of adoption in Guatemala is rather unpredictable and volatile. The agency I work with has put a moratorium on accepting any new applications for Guatemala but is willing to help those of us already in process to continue with the process. Unfortunately, there are even less guarantees of completing an adoption then there usually is due to all the above mentioned which makes it a very scary place to sit as a prospective adoptive parent. At this point, I have decided to continue with the process knowing my risks. I really feel that this is where I am supposed to be (at least for now) however rocky and scary it seems. But it also makes an already emotional time even more emotional. Please keep me and my future daughter in your prayers. I will keep you updated as I know more. Thank you for all your support in my adoption. It means more than you probably know.

August 18, 2006

I don't really know what to say or how to say it but I wanted to let each of you know that I had to make a really difficult this week. I will not be accepting the referral of the little girl I recently told you about. This means she will not be my daughter. While I really wanted this to work, God seems to have another plan. I never expected to receive a referral this fast and I do not have the money to pay all the various fees that would have been due. I really hoped and prayed that money would just appear from somewhere but it did not. I didn't feel that I could accept the referral when there is still so much money I need and I do not know how I can get it. I have several things "in the works" to raise money but it will still take a lot more. Please pray for me as my heart is truly broken at this moment. Last week at this time, I thought my dream was really coming true and 7 days later I am faced with another period of waiting. I do not understand Gods plan and at this time my "human self" wonders if He really has a plan. But in my Mind, Body, and Soul, I know He does and it is even better than I can imagine. Please continue to pray for my finances, my heart, and this little girl that will be joining another family.

August 12, 2006

Wow, what a difference 8 months makes! Let me take a moment to get you caught up. For many many years I have wanted to adopt but the timing was just never right. I had thought I would start the process last year but then bought a house. So then I thought I would start the process the fall of this year but last fall I started thinking I couldn’t wait that long. Last November I really felt led to start looking into agencies so I would know what agency I wanted to use. I went to a seminar for one agency in December and heard a lot of information about international adoption. I never really thought about international adoption but at this point in time I started thinking that maybe I would pursue international adoption. So with that I decided to keep researching on the internet and made several calls to agencies. Around mid December I contacted an agency and set up an appointment to meet with them the beginning of January to talk about adoption through Guatemala.

I went to meet Carrie at A Helping Hand Adoption Agency and REALLY liked everything I heard. Carrie was great! She was patient, personable, and very informative. I left that meeting thinking “This may be the agency!” Over the next two weeks, I started thinking that there was no way I could wait until September to start this process. My time frame got shorter and shorter and God kept showing me that this was what He wanted me to do. However, I was very scared because I had waited so long to adopt, couldn't believe it may actually happen soon, and I still had no idea how I could pay to adopt. On January 18, 2006, I was talking to my friend Sheila on the phone and she said “Sometimes you just have to step out in faith.” I said, but how am I going to pay for it? And she responded “Where God guides, He provides.” Now I know this to be true but all of a sudden I felt like God was speaking to me through Sheila…this wasn’t just Sheila speaking to me!

Shortly after I hung up with Sheila I was driving home and was overwhelmed with thoughts of “Is this really going to happen?” “This is it!,” “This is what God wants!,” “Oh my gosh, this is really going to happen!” I looked up and what did I see? A Rainbow! Rainbows have always been important to me and I could not believe that there was a Rainbow! (“Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all the living creatures of every kind on the earth.” Genesis 9:16) There was not a cloud in sight, how could there be a Rainbow? I KNOW that this was God telling me “I was talking through Sheila and I do want you to start the process of adoption through A Helping Hand. You are going to be a mother!” My body was covered in goose bumps, my hands were shaking and tears were filling my eyes. I immediately called Sheila and told her what had happened. So then we were both crying.

I contacted Carrie and told her I was ready to start the process to adopt a little girl from Guatemala. I began getting all my paperwork together and the agency received my application on March 1, 2006. From this point on my life was consumed with paperwork!!! There are a lot of documents and appointments that all had to come together but about 4 months later it was official, I was on the waiting list! Not only was I on the wait list, but God had provided all the money to this point. (“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your on understanding: in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make you paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6) I have been very excited watching how God has walked me through the whole process. I was told that it would take me 4-6 months to do my paperwork and it took me 4 months. I was told the average length of wait on the waiting list was 4-6 months and as of August 11, 2006 I am no longer on the waiting list. I have received information on my little girl! She was born July 20, 2006 and will be 5-7 months old when I can go pick her up. During this time all the Guatemala legal processes will be taking place and I will be anxiously awaiting the time I can go see her and eventually pick her up.

In the beginning

In order to get you up to date, I thought I would go back to December of 2005. My big “project” for 2006 was to pursue adoption. I have ALWAYS wanted children and I certainly never thought I would be 30 something without children. But in 1997 God placed it on my heart to adopt. Of course at that time, I was not at a point to pursue that. Over the years, I have been exposed to adoption through previous jobs and friends who have adopted. Of course, I had this list of things that I thought I needed to have in place before I adopted but God showed me that He has a plan and I believe this plan included me starting the adoption process in 2006. It was kind of scary to start the process as I had NO idea how I was going to afford the adoption fees or how I will manage a child and my very busy full time job. But I had to trust God that all these little nudges He gave me pointed me in that direction. I researched agencies and decided on International adoption through Guatemala.

Many people have asked “Why don’t you just get married and have children?” Well, so far God has not shown me who my husband is to be. I would love to be married and would love to have a biological child (or 2) but at this time, that is not an option. Another common question is “Why don’t you just get pregnant or do Invitro?” I feel that there are SO many children already in this world that do not have a mom and I want to be a mommy for one of them. Finally, another question I get is “Are you sure you want to adopt a child outside of your race?” I am not opposed to adopting a child of my race or any other race. I truly believe that love knows no color. So many children are born and left to survive on there own and unfortunately, many of them are minorities. If God gave me a heart to love someone no matter what their race and He leads me to a child of a different race, than that is the child I am to be a mommy to. My goal is to follow God’s plan for my life and love whomever is brought into my life.

My first adoption and my first Blog!!

Here I am writing my first Blog. I started the adoption process in February of 2006 and it has been a long journey that I am still on. I have admired others blog sites and wanted to do the same but have been a little intimidated by the process. I read a quote today by John F. Kennedy that said "We should not let our fears hold us back from pursuing our hopes." So I thought if I can pursue my hope/dream of adoption and ALL it entails, surely I can figure out how to Blog. So here we go....