DONATIONS

I have been trying to set up a Paypal Donation button like I used to have on our blog (before I changed the template). The HTML code is not wanting to work. . . . of course that could totally be user error as I don't know alot about HTML! :) hee,hee. Anyways . . . here's the best I can do for now. You can click on the words below and it should (hopefully) take you to our Paypal site to donate. (Paypal will deduct a small percentage for fees).

DONATE HERE! :)

Thank you to all who have donated so far! We could not have made it this far without you! You are forever changing our lives, and (Kathryn) Wendy Elizabeth's life - along with all those she touches in her lifetime! Wow!! Bet you didn't know your small donation could do so much!! God bless you a hundred-fold for your generosity!!

Blessings!

Lori :)

ps - I also wanted to thank those of you that have donated clothes, supplies and money towards our upcoming trip to Casa Bernabe. I am hoping to bless their socks off!! :) Thanks! We are still taking donations. Below is a list of the most pressing needs at CB. We may also bring down some of the money donated to be able to buy things down there that we don't want to/can't transport down there (ie - the big metal pot!). So - we are still taking money for things too. If you want a complete list of all they need (not just their most urgent needs) - let me know and I'll email you a copy. There are alot of other needs not listed here. We are definitely taking down more than just what's on the list below.

URGENT Needs

CASA NUEVO PACTO – boys ages 12-18
Big metal pot

Sweatshirts (hoodies)

Forks and spoons

CASA LAMAR – girls ages 8-18, (staff child: boy – 4yrs)
Bras for girls in sizes 30-36, sports bras are good for the younger girls

CASA SAMUEL – boys and girls ages 5-9
Girls jeans sizes 4-10

Boys pants sizes 8-10, 14husky

CASA DAVID – boys and girls ages 3-6
Girls clothes – size 5 and 6

Undershirts for girls

Jeans – boys sizes 3, 4, 5

Boys socks and white undershirts – sizes 3-5

CLINIC NEEDS
Children’s vitamins
Test strips for diabetics-ACCU-CHEK Advantage brand

PACE (a program for special needs)
1 Metronome
1 Timer that counts up and down with seconds and minutes

BAND and PERFORMING ARTS
Sax and clarinet reeds #3 and #2 1/2
Trombone extension
Bass drum pedal
Bass drum head High hat cymbals

Accidental Adoption

No news here. Just counting down the days till I get to snuggle up with our daughter . . . only 17 more to go! Woo-hoo! We are 2 weeks into Family Court (FC) today. Don't know what's going on with it - probably won't know anything till they tell us we are out of FC and waiting for Pre-Approval (PA). Then it will be onto PGN (the Attorney General's office). Please keep praying for the process. Alot of things are slowing down in Guatemala - on the GT side and on the US side - scrutinizing each case more closely to make sure everything is totally legal. I'm glad they are doing that - but just pray it doesn't take too long. Thanks!!

For the worrying, stressed out, increasingly emotional adoptive friends of mine (and anyone else for that matter) -the Accidental Adoption story below is just to lift your spirits today!! Enjoy!

Lori :)

"Accidental Adoption"

Have you ever noticed that you hear all the time about "accidental" pregnacies, but never about couples who experience "accidental" adoptions? Can you imagine:

Honey, sit down. I have some news for you.
What is it?
Well, I don't know how to say this, so I'll just come out with it. I went to the mailbox today and... well, we got a 171-H.
A what?!? A 171-H? As in, we're going to have a(nother) baby?!?
It looks that way.
But how? We've been so careful! I put away all the blank I-600A forms. Didn't you hide our homestudy update?
Of course I did, but don't forget, there was that one night...
What night? (pauses) Ohhh, that night, But it was only once. We were just messing around. I didn't print clearly. I didn't even use ink! (pauses again) But it was kind of fun. (giggles).
It was, wasn't it? I'll never forget how cute you looked getting your fingerprints.
So now we've got our 171-H, eh? But that doesn't always mean you'll adopt, does it? I mean, shouldn't you see the agency or something, make sure everything's okay?
I already did.
And?
I'm five documents along.
Five documents! And they're all notarized, certified and authenticated okay?
Just great. There was one small scare when the agency couldn't see the Notary's middle initial but it showed up just fine under the magnifying glass.
Thank God. And you, honey? Are you feeling okay?
I'm feeling fine. As long as I know you're happy about this.
Happy? I'm thrilled! It's always a shock at first when something like this happens, but of course I'm happy.
Author Unknown

We have "STARTED" our adoption!!

WOW! What a GREAT 2 days it's been here (despite some fevers and vomiting with 2 of the kids)!

We FINALLY have our POA registered in Guatemala and our paperwork (dossier) is supposed to be taken to Family Court TODAY!!!! :) Yeah!!! We are finally able to "start" our adoption (after starting it a year ago!)! For most people, once they have signed their POA, THEN the hard "waiting" begins. For US - we have done so much waiting and waiting and waiting - that this seems like it won't be as bad. :) I feel like we are nearing the end actually! It's all in your perspective!

We are hoping to have her home sometime this summer - but I think that if I just tell myself - we'll have her home by C-mas, then anything sooner will be a wonderful surprise! :) We'll see. The average amount of time it has been taking from POA log in till "Gotcha Day" has been around 4 1/2 months to 8 months. We do not have to do a couple steps (as it is an abandonment), so we are hoping it will be on the shorter end. It looks like it will not take the extra year or two that we were praying against . . . . . . but, you never know. Just pray our paperwork gets in the right hands (case workers, etc) - who are speedy, ethical, etc. Thanks so much.

We also got some wonderful pictures of our little darling yesterday. You can check them out here:

Wendy/Katie - Feb 2007

We are so in love with her and are excited to go see her in April (to celebrate her 3rd b-day)! I just want to get my arms around her and never let go!

Thanks for all your prayers and support! I also want to thank those that donated in our tax-deductible account. One of you donated anonymously . . . . . now how am I supposed to properly thank you?! Hunh?! Well . . .
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
You know who you are!

Most of you knew about the craziness in GT last week - with the President saying he was going to announce the Protocol of Good Practice (that was supposed to be announced last fall and then in Feb - and never was). This was a HUGE prayer request, as the rumors were that it could potentially suspend all adoptions - even those in process!! Not good!
Thank you all for praying last week about the Protocol of Good Practice. The President of Guatemala (Mr. Berger) DID announce it - but no one signed it (so it's not an executive order) and it has not been implemented yet. It was changed to the Manual of Good Practices (etc) and is more of a "wish list" of what they want to do (if they get the money for it, etc). God is good! He surely answers prayers!!!
Keep praying that God will retain control of all this and that child-friendly adoption laws will be passed in Congress down there. We want GT to become Hague-compliant, but not at the expense of the children's well-being. Keep praying that neither the GT or US gov't will suspend (or shut down) adoptions in process! God is getting us through, and will continue to do so till we bring our daughter home!

Blessings to you and your families this week!
May he answer your prayers beyond your wildest dreams as you seek after Him with all your heart and soul!!!

Love ya!

Lori :)