Our Adoption Journey

Juliana Gabrielle

2011-02-09T09:53:00.005-05:00

I know it's been FOREVER since I updated this site! I wanted to catch you up (if anyone is even reading this now) or at least put it down in writing somewhere - on just what God has been doing lately. :)

A few months ago - I think around November, I got an email from FOCE (Friends of Children Everywhere) - the organization over Wendy's orphanage - Casa Bernabe. The email newsletter talked about sponsorship - about sponsoring a child. To the left of the article were some pictures of kids who needed sponsors. I got so excited to see one little girl's name and face . . . . Juliana Gabrielle!

Now let me back up. For those that don't remember - Juliana was one of our referrals (as a relinquishment) in Sept. 2006, but ended up not being available as she was actually caught in the middle of an adoption already. Long story - you can read more about it in several posts here in the September 2006 archives. I had deleted some info - but will most likely repost it (as it's been so long).

Anyways - Juliana never did end up coming home to the U.S. Her sad story is filled with a horrible (dare I say "evil") adoption agency and lawyer, a "strange" adoptive mother, and the unwillingness by that mom to trust anyone else to help her (after the abuses she endured with the last agency - I can see why) - and to bring Juliana home.

What I've been told, is that Juliana's adoption had gone all the way to the end - even getting her a new Birth Certificate with her new parent's last name. But something went wrong after that. ?? Someone didn't pay some money? Someone in GT didn't sign off on something to allow her to get her visa. ?? I'm not 100% sure - but my feeling is - after almost 3 years, the mom probably didn't want to bring home a 3 year old as she had signed up to bring home a baby. ?? Who knows. I don't know. In any case - Juliana was stuck in Guatemala - and then adoptions shut down between GT and the US in December 2006.

I prayed for Juliana frequently - not knowing what happened to her. The other woman who had originally helped me find her adoptive parents would let me know if she heard anything about Juliana through the grapevine - as she knew I had such a heart for this little girl. At one point I heard Juliana wasn't doing well . . . something about bruises on her, the foster mom being arrested?? I don't know if any of that is true - but it did make me pray for her more. I didn't know what was going to happen to her now - I am sure she had been through alot.

Fast forward a few years - on Jan 15th, 2010 I get an email from my friend who had been keeping me updated. She sent me an email with the subject "Juliana is at Casa Bernabe!" :) My heart leapt! Really?! Out of all the orphanages that she could have ended up at - God saw to it that she was sent to Wendy's orphanage - a Christian orphanage!! Wow! God is so cool! I was thrilled that I could keep an eye on her here, and prayed she would stay here and not be moved. I thought about sponsoring her - but she wasn't listed as needing a sponsor (I guess I could have asked - but didn't think about it at the time).

She had grown so much! No longer was she a little toddler with brown curls - but she had a cute short bob haircut and looked so grown up. She was. She was almost 6! Wow.

Now back to November 2010 and that email . . . . when I saw her picture and info stating she needed a sponsor - I got so excited! I sent emails to my family telling them of the miraculous story of God's plans for this little girl - and His answers to my prayers - and a couple of them agreed to sponsor this little girl with us - as a family - to love on her and let her know we are here for her!

When I told Wendy about Juliana - at first she asked "What? You don't want me anymore?" I think she thought we were going to get Juliana and send Wendy back. ?? :) I told her that Juliana can't be adopted as adoptions are closed to the US still. But I told her how we could pray for her, bless her, send her cards, gifts, etc. Wendy got excited about that - and wanted to send her a card telling her that she used to live there, etc! She even went to the store to pick out some gifts for Juliana - PJ's, coloring set, etc. We sent them off with lots of prayers and joy!

We are waiting to receive Juliana's letter back to us (it's being translated) - but the woman who brought it back with her (and had brought the gifts down) said that Juliana is "quite the artist". :) She would fit in with our family well! I can't wait to get her letter. FOCE sent us a picture to put on our fridge, and I keep reminding the kids to pray for her. I am just so thrilled that we can still be a part of this little girl's life - even though she wasn't able to come home as our daughter. That referral was NOT an accident!

Another sad part of that story though is that my friend never did get to bring her 2 girls home. The agency would never do what they were supposed to do to get the adoption going before adoptions shut down. They basically just took her money. My friend has kept in contact with her girls, but not as much as before as it hurts her heart to know they are stuck there forever. So sad.

Last night I painstakingly made a little necklace for Juliana with her name on it (from my girl's shrink art jewelry kit). I say "painstakingly" because I got impatient and freaked out when it was shrinking and tried to open it back up when it curled in and then I cracked it! :( ugh. So I made another one just like it. I kept the 1st one and have it hanging by my bed to remind me every night when I turn off the light to pray for her. I would take a picture of it to show you . . . but honestly - I need to get off this computer (maybe I"ll do it later. We'll see)! I had no intention of blogging today (got a bunch of other things I need to do) - but some friends of mine got me thinking about Wendy's adoption, etc - and I just had to give an update on Juliana.

People have to know that God DOES answer prayers! He DOES hear them. He DOES have great plans for each one of us! I'm excited to see what He has in store for Juliana - and how we will play a part in her life! She is like one of my own that I couldn't bring home. I'm so glad I can still be a part of her life!

As for what else God has been doing in my heart . . . .

After reading the email about sponsorship - I went online to see if GT adoptions were open yet to the US. Nope. I then went online to see about other adoptions - to view the photolisting of kids at Rainbowkids.com. That's not a good thing for me to do! :) I fell in love with these 3 precious siblings from Ethiopia (2 boys and 1 girl)!!

I spent 2 months in Ethiopia when I was 19 - working with an orphanage and the underground church, with a small group from my YWAM DTS. It was a great experience in many ways. Hard at times, but I learned alot that summer. I also fell in love with the kids and the Ethiopian people!! I taught "kindergartners" how to sing English songs. Good ole classics like -Father Abraham; If You're Happy and you Know it; Allelu, Allelu, Allelu, Allelujah . . . Praise Ye the Lord. Ones that involved moving around and having fun! :)

During our adoption process I found out that Ethiopia was opening for adoption. I was excited and wished I could have adopted a child from there right then. But it wasn't meant to be. But was it now?? :)

I could not stop thinking about these 3 kids for quite awhile. I contacted the agency, and got more info on them. There was another family interested too. I talked with Jeremy. We prayed. J just didn't feel like we were supposed to adopt right now ("I didn't have a dream Lori." Hey - God likes to use different methods to speak to us!). We couldn't really fit 3 more in this house, or our van - and did I really want to have 8 kids?! It was as if my brain wasn't even thinking about those things - because I know that I never wanted more than 4, and didn't envy anyone with more than 4 - but when God calls you to do something - he prepares you for it many times- and gives you the grace to do it (if you don't feel prepared). We only had $96 in our savings when we set out to adopt Wendy - at the tune of $30,ooo. God provided! AND we got a discount (it only ended up costing $21k). So - I knew if He was saying these 3 kids were ours - then He would provide.

I found myself crying often for a couple weeks. God was stirring my heart towards orphans again. I would watch a video of someone else's adoption and just bawl. What was God doing?

In the end - the other family decided to pursue these kids. My heart sank. I had just prayed for them the day before and had written out what I felt the Lord said about these kids - who they really were. The cool thing was - later I looked up the meanings of their names . . . and it coincided with what God had said about "who" these kids were! :) So cool! I thought God was giving me that info because they would be ours . . . . but I guess not. Was it to just pray for them? Was it to send that info to the adoptive parents (I don't even know if they are Christians - as the agency isn't)? Was it just because I asked Him? :)

I did end up sending the words for those kids to the agency to pass onto the family (if they so chose). I never heard back from the agency. I've debated on sending another email to find out what they did with it - if they sent it to the family. They probably thought I was crazy - but I really don't care. I know what God said - and these kids need to know what God says about them - how awesome they are - how amazing He thinks they are - and that He has great plans for their lives! We'll see what happens.

So, after that let down (a relief to Jeremy!) - I haven't thought much about adoption again. I heard that Ethiopia might be shut down for adoptions soon - and part of me wants to rush and do something before it does. But I know that God has perfect timing and perfect plans - and I can't go forward with any adoptions unless Jeremy is totally on board and we both feel that God is telling us to do this. I know my heart bleeds for so many people - orphans included. I feel God's heart. I can misinterpret that as "I'm supposed to adopt again" when that might not be it. I still need to pray more about it. Most days I can't imagine having more than 5 (we have our hands full here) - but then I think about all the kids that don't have anyone to call their own. How can I be so selfish?! I do have alot of love to give. I could give more.

We'll see.

We are volunteering at the Winter Jam concert like we do every year - to work with Holt and promote their child sponsorship program. I always enjoy doing that and seeing people's hearts turn towards the orphans.

Well - this post ended up being a book! Sorry! Hope I didn't bore you. :) I hope, instead, that you caught on to a couple things:

1. God LOVES everyone - orphans and even you!
2. God has a PLAN for everyone's lives! A good plan!
3. God ANSWERS prayers!
4. God's HEART is that we will LOVE and take care of the orphans, widows and needy. James 1:27 says - "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
5. Always be willing to let God lead and guide you - and TRUST Him 100%! He IS trustworthy!

Blessings today and always!

Lori :)

Tragedy in Adopting

2008-12-09T10:37:00.001-05:00

I have to share this with you all. I am sitting here snuggling with my little Guatemalan girl - crying and trying to explain this all to her - all the while, grateful that I have the chance to snuggle with her!

My good friend Kelly (who I met through my adoption agency . . . we both have similar families and adopted about the same time) posted some info on her blog about a friend's adoption from Guatemala - of little Josi. She was just about to come home (after over a year waiting) - but was just found murdered in a home invasion (along with the foster family). :( Kelly has posted the info and a link to help raise money to help cover the remaining costs THEY STILL HAVE TO PAY in their adoption ($13,000) - that will never be completed. :(

Thanks for praying for them! I can't even imagine their grief! I just read the book "The Shack" and that has helped somewhat to put a different perspective on all of this. You want to just go into the "why's" and the "if only's" and the "what if's" . . . what if they had gotten through PGN or other parts of their adoption sooner, what if they had gone down to foster her themselves, what if . . . .why . . . why . . . why?? They literally were only a couple weeks from picking her up. They had just gotten her new birth certificate in GT and were just waiting for their pink slip saying they could come down to get her and her visa!! What a sad c-mas it will be at their house. :(

Here's my friend Kelly's blog

Here is the Azhderian family's blog
(there a video on here about Josi . . . grab your tissues first!)

Here's where you can donate through ChipIn

Please pass on this info to those you know who can pray for them or bless them financially with the rest of their adoption costs.

Blessings

Forever Family Day

2008-11-22T22:03:00.002-05:00

OK . . . so it's almost 3 months PAST our Forever Family Day and I am finally getting around to posting the pictures from our day on the sand dunes! The kids LOVED it (as you will see)! They were not too sure that playing in a bunch of sand all day would be fun . . . . but when we left, they were asking if we could go back again the next day! :) Maybe it will become a tradition! :)

Here's a slide-show of the pictures. There are some videos too (of the kids running, sliding, jumping, swimming, etc - down the hill!). Click on the picture below to see the video. You can also see the slide-show on the right above the other slide-shows.

Enjoy!

Lori :)

Forever Family Day

1 year ago today!

2008-09-02T10:30:00.000-04:00

At this time, last year, we were tired but excited! We had been up since 3am - to get on a plane (Jeremy, myself and Meghan) to go finally pick up our daughter Wendy!! I can't believe a year has gone by! I can still remember the excitement in seeing our beautiful daughter again - being brought to us by her house dad Antonio, and the sweet, but slightly unsure look on her face when she saw us. It was as if she kind of remembered us, but wasn't sure who we really were. She easily came to Jeremy when passed into his arms, and let me take pictures of her and all of us together. She was a bit sleepy as it was almost nap time, and we had interrupted her lunch - so I'm sure that played into things. We let her go finish lunch, and then joined her to let Meghan play with her a bit before nap time. Despite the language barrier, they hit it off right away! By that evening they were chasing each other and laughing constantly! We were so glad we had brought Meghan along. She really did help Wendy transition into our family and feel comfortable and welcomed. Wendy had done well with us when we had visited last April, but she was very quiet. With Meghan around, we got to hear more of her awesome giggles and sweet Spanish speaking voice!

So - here we are - a year later and Wendy hardly remembers any of her Spanish! Yikes! I asked her the other day what "bed" was in Spanish. She said "ummm . . . . . bedito?" :) LOL! I just died laughing. I then asked her what "food" was in Spanish. "umm . . . . Foodeeo?" :) I love that girl! I am a bit sad she has lost so much of her Spanish. Maybe one day we'll teach her again. I think her older siblings know more Spanish than she does now! :) She was just so hungry to learn English when she came home. She would walk around every day, all day long, asking "Que es eso?" (What is this?) I would tell her the English word and she would repeat it. Very rarely did we ever have to tell her twice what something was. She is a fast learner!

Today is the first day of public school here (Ty started last week), and for the first time in a looong time, Wendy is home alone with just me. She's already asked me this morning when are we are going to pick up Jacob (he had half-day kindergarten last year). She is already missing the kids! I think it will be a bit of a shock for Wendy to be just with me for long periods of time, but it will be good. We can actually have playdates and DO things together! :) Yeah!! Mommy and daughter bonding time! :) She is very excited though to start preschool tomorrow! She has been begging to go to school since last October! :)

I think that instead of celebrating a "Gotcha Day" today, we will celebrate a "Forever Family Day" on Sept 7th - the day we brought her back home to the US and we ALL became a family forever!

I had wanted to compile a video of pictures and video snippets of Wendy for this 1 year anniversary . . . but August was sooo crazy around here that I haven't had time. Plus, I don't think I have the software on my computer anymore. Jeremy had to wipe my hard drive clean twice this year! I'm sure he could still reload it if I asked. We'll see. Right now - I've got a lot of organizing and catching up to do after a crazy month. I might just be able to get some of it done with the kids in school now! :) You can see some of our visit trip and pick up trip pictures to the right. There are other pics of Wendy throughout the blog as well. I have some video of when she was younger (around 1 year old), but I don't think I've uploaded that to the computer or this blog.

Blessings to you all!

Lori :)

Jeremy was prayed for on the 700 Club!

2008-06-19T13:50:00.003-04:00

CBN (where Jeremy works) has a show called the 700 Club. It has a segment called "Bring it on" where people can send in questions for Pat (Robertson) to answer (on a wide variety of topics). Recently they started a new method of sending in questions - via web cam. Since Jeremy knows the producer of that segment, he was asked to to a couple web cam questions, in case they didn't have any on some days (I guess people either haven't caught on that they can do this, don't know how, or just don't want their faces on tv??). Jeremy didn't know they were going to use one of his questions last Thursday - but it was definitely in God's plans! You can see it HERE. Pat's response was a good one.

Gordon Robertson saw that question, and told his producers that he wanted J on the set after Friday's Spiritual Gifts seminar, to be able to pray for Jeremy! How awesome! I was so excited for Jeremy to get the prayer as I know he has been stressed out this past month or so, and could use a time of refreshing! I really hoped and prayed that Jeremy would go get that prayer (and not get too busy with all the technical stuff). I just didn't expect this to happen . . .

God did a mighty work this past Friday the 13th! Watch the 700 CLUB VIDEO to see what God had to say to my wonderful husband!!

The words of God for him are at 40:41 - 42:39 (Anne Thigpen), 43:56 - 45:04 (Jane Hamon), 46:20 - 48:53 (Duncan Smith from Toronto), and 57:59 - 58:39 (a woman from the audience). J was really touched by God through these words - especially Duncan's message!

May God bless you and minister to you through this 700 club segment!!

You can also view parts 2 and 3 of this series that they did. Part 2 is a night of soaking prayer online (this past Tuesday - and hopefully every Tuesday night from here on out!), and part 3 is about the Manifestation of the Holy Spirit.

Blessings!

Lori :)

Heaven Bound!

2008-05-22T14:24:00.001-04:00

What an awesome day today is!! The Angels are rejoicing in Heaven today and God had to use his pen (or quill . . . or magic marker . . . whatever he uses)! Why? Becuase our darling daughter Wendy told Jesus that she wanted Him to live in her heart and be the Lord of her life today! :) What a blessing! Now all my kids are Heaven Bound!! :)
Of course, this all came about while we were snuggling and praying and talking after a very looooong "4 minute" time-out that she didn't want to take for over an hour and a half. Instead, she wanted to scream (did you hear it?) and almost burst some blood vessels in her eyes in the process! :) OK - not really . . . but she was screaming mad that mommy would have the audacity to put her in a time-out for disobeying!! How dare Mommy do that?!! :) I know . . . I'm the "meanest mom in the world" . . . or so I've been told. :) But thankfully - after the punishment is finally done and we are snuggling and loving on each other - I'm usually the "best mom in the world" again and all is well in the West household . . . . for at least a minute. :)

I know that I haven't kept up with this blog. I'm sorry. I have started another blog, and I've just been trying to keep up with all the other momly duties that I have each day. :) But thank you for checking in on us!

Wendy is doing awesome (except for the occasional 4 year old fit like most kids)! She amazes me! I knew she was smart - but she still amazes me! The other day she was watching daddy mow the lawn and asked him "Why are you doing that?"
"Doing what? Mowing the lawn? Why do you think I'm doing it?" he asked her.
"To make mommy happy?" she replied. !!!! :)
You betcha!! Because otherwise I don't know that he would do it . . . or at least not as often! :) What a smart cookie she is!

Also, when asking her what we should get daddy for his birthday - she went on to list quite a few things that are Jeremy's favorites - a new Star Wars movie, a Star Wars shirt, a new van, a new chair, etc!! I was sooo surprised at how specific her answers were! She definitely knows what her daddy likes! :) This girl doesn't miss ANYTHING!! :)

So - as you can see from this post . . . Wendy has turned 4. I will have to post some pics and fill you in on her recent b-day later. I just realized that my other daughter's bus will be arriving in 5 minutes and I still have a wet towel on my head from taking a shower (late in the day - I know! But I did get some exercise today!!). And then it's off to pick up another child (my 10 year old) from school! :) So . . . . for now just rejoice with us that Wendy is part of God's kingdom and sealed for eternity as a Princess of the King!!

Blessings
Lori :)

I'm all done here!

2008-02-22T17:39:00.000-05:00

"I'm all done here!" Have you ever felt that way? If you said no - then either you are lying or you haven't lived long enough! :) Hee,hee. Evidentally my 3 year old HAS lived long enough. :)

We were just going about our normal routine - the kids running around torturing each other . . . ok, ok - not really - at least not today. They were playing . . . . .and occasionally getting on each other's nerves. :) I was folding my 5-7 loads of laundry that I trudge through twice a week, when Wendy walked over near me and said "OK. I'm all done here!"
"What? Done with what?" I asked.
"I'm all done HERE. I go to Guatemala . . . . . .to my home." she casually replied.
"Oh. I see." I said calmly, and then teasingly asked, "Why? Don't you like it here? Don't you like Mommy and Daddy and Ryan and the other kids?"
"Without hesitation or even looking up, she matter of factly said, "Yes. . . . I like you. . . . but I go to Guatemala . . . to my home".

We started to talk about how I bet she misses it there, but that this is her new home . . .that was her old home. She has yet to agree with me on that issue. Usually she says "No. . . . is YOU home. My home . . . Guatemala". Just before the phone rang and cut our conversation short, I said "Well, when I was 3 I lived in a different home too".
"WHAT?!" she cutely, quickly and loudly responded. :)
"Yes. But now I live here . . . .with you. Aren't you glad?"
I never did get to hear her response or finish the conversation as raced to get the phone (I should have just let voice mail get it).

So - I can tell that we will be having more conversations about her "home" as she gets older. She still is very happy here and LOVES her siblings (and us . . . .most of the time). I think she is just missing all that she really remembers till she came here. I don't know whether showing her video footage of her home would help or hurt at this point. I'll have to feel that one out. We do look at photos, but not the video footage we took yet. We'll see.

So - like my daughter said . . . .

I'm all done here!

Time for dinner! . . . . .Pizza night! :)

Lori :)

2 years ago today!

2008-02-21T07:49:00.000-05:00

2 years ago today I was getting ready in the morning, talking with my husband about the dream he had just had that had woke him up sobbing. It was the divine intervention that I had just prayed for the night before - "God if this desire (to adopt a 3-5 year old little girl from Guatemala) is from you . . . then you have to speak to my husband about it!" (he knew NOTHING about it at the time)

So, in essence - 2 years ago today we found out we were "pregnant" with a toddler girl (2-3 years old) - with long dark, curly hair! My heart was bursting to find her! I wanted to bring her home the very next day! Little did I know it wouldn't happen for another 18 months.

We are so thankful to Lucy (our agency director) and KAS (Kentucky Adoption Services) for being the wonderful "detective" agency that they were in helping us find our truly "orphaned" toddler girl! God knew where she was and knew who would be able to help us find her and bring her home!

Thank you guys for supporting, praying for us, and encouraging us (keeping me going) along the way! You are a blessing!

For those who haven't read it before - you can read all about my husband's dream (and our journey) on this blog - "The Dream"

Lori :)

I know, I know . . . Where's the update on Wendy?!

2008-02-08T13:18:00.000-05:00

The whole gang! - Christmas 2007

Duck, NC

Wow! Am I a procrastinator or what?? . . . . Actually - it's called "trying to keep my head from spinning off my neck while raising 5 kids"! :) Our schedule is way too crazy this year! I am currently looking into (and praying about) ways to de-stress our schedule next school year!

So - for those of you that have waited patiently for an update on Wendy . . . . here it is.

She's fine.

:) hee,hee. OK -I'll give you more! :)

She has been home with us 5 months as of yesterday!! I can't believe it! She still acts as if she's been here for years! She loves to be in charge and boss her siblings around - though that gets her into trouble when she tries to tell ME what to do! :) She definitely is a West and will definitely be a leader in whatever God has for her!

2 stories that just tickle me pink whenever I think of them . . .

Because Wendy didn't come home till she was 3 1/2 years old - we missed alot of her "firsts". That makes me sad - but at the same time - I am realizing that there are so many more "firsts" that may not fall in the traditional categories. Like the first time Wendy went to Walmart with me and rode in a shopping cart! You would have thought she was on a ride at Disney World! She giggled and giggled each time we went over a bump, and it was hilarious to watch her giggling with glee as her butt was being tickled by riding over the bumpy pavement in the parking lot! :)

Not too long after Wendy arrived home, we were all sitting at the dinner table enjoying our meal. We thought that Wendy understood quite a lot of English, but we soon realized that she was really reacting to our tone of voice and non-verbal communication even more than the words. Jeremy (my husband) was in a silly mood, and in a very excited and happy voice asked our 5 kids - "Who here wants a spanking?!" :) 4 of our kids just looked incredulously at my husband for asking such a "dumb" question - but Wendy, who always wants to be the first to do ANYTHING and wants to do EVERYTHING that everyone else does - shot her hand up excitedly and shouted "YO!" :) We just laughed and laughed. (and no - we did not give her a spanking.)

She continues to amaze me with the speed at which she has picked up English! Much faster than I am picking up Spanish - that's for sure! She has been asking for 3 months now "When do I go to school?" She wants to go to "her class" each day. I think she will enjoy preschool next year! She is such a social little girl!

Halloween was fun - watching her learn all about the crazy custom of going to houses to get candy! :) After each house she kept asking me "Now? mommy?" She wanted to eat her candy so bad! After the 4th house I let her have a piece. And then, of course, she had fun digging in once we were done! The next night she wanted to do it all over again. :)

We dedicated her to God in our church on December 16th, 2007 - and she was sooo cute - going to each sibling and giving them a hug as my husband was introducing our family up on stage. :) You would have thought we had planned it.

Christmas we went to a beach house in Duck, NC and when it was time to pack for the trip, Wendy started to cry. She said she didn't want to go on a trip. I wasn't sure why she was crying, but then I asked "Do you think we are not coming back?" . . . . . The tears came heavier! "yes" she sobbed. The last trip she had taken she had left Guatemala and came here. Bless her heart! So we talked about how we would come back as this was our house where we lived, then I showed her pictures online of the house we would be "visiting", and she understood. Then she was excited to pack up! :) A few weeks later we had to go take my husband to the airport and she thought we were going to Guatemala. She said she didn't want to go back to GT unless mommy and daddy went with her. Though she has been asking lately when can she "go back to her home"? I told her that was her "old home" and this was her "new home" - and she said "No - that is my home. This is your home." That surprised me as she calls her bed "mi cama" or "MY bed" and seems to have taken ownership in living here. I think her little 3 year old brain is trying to wrap around the idea of having an "old" home and a "new" home. She really is a happy girl and LOVES living here and playing with her siblings! She is still VERY adventurous, creative, imaginative, and totally goofy! :) You should have seen her jumping into the pool at the beach house! That girl has NO FEAR! :)

I will try to post a picture slide show at some point - so if it's not there now - check back later. For now - here is our goofy wonderful girl in a few shots!

Lori :)

Our little Guatemalan Princess - Halloween 2007

This is how Wendy dressed up for Ryan's b-day party . . . in DECEMBER! :)

Ninja girl! :)

Wendy's 1st Christmas at home with us!

Wendy and Mommy (me) on Christmas day!

Return to Sender - Part 2 - and new BLOG!

2008-01-02T18:34:00.000-05:00

I have started another blog! It's called Mothering Matters and More! - Matters concerning Mothers; The matters Mothers should be concerned about; What matters to Mothers, and - YES! - that Mothering MATTERS!!

I wanted to have a place to put the stories and information I come across, am passionate about, or things I feel that relate to mothering (and fathering). We'll see if my busy mothering myself allows me to keep up with it! :) (I get alot of great ideas . . . . just not enough time to accomplish, or even start, them all!)

You can read this post about the latest in the Candy Cane card saga there at http://motheringmattersandmore.blogspot.com/2008/01/return-to-sender-part-2.html

Blessings!
Lori :)

Happy? New Year

2008-01-01T12:21:00.000-05:00

I just had to pass this on. My heart just breaks thinking about the kids that will die while waiting for a Forever Family to care for them! I am thankful that Wendy is home and that it wasn't going to take 2 years to bring her home - but I'm sad for those that will be "in limbo" for quite awhile.

- Lori

December 31, 2007

Out with the Old, In With the ?

2007 has drawn to a close, and with it Guatemala’s system of notarial adoptions. Tens of thousands of children have found permanent, loving homes outside the borders of their country of birth, and equal numbers of families from all walks of life have been blessed with the joy of parenthood, thanks to that system. The notarial system also brought many claims of attorney and adoption agency incompetence, lies, and malfeasance, along with bureaucratic delays on the part of both US and Guatemalan government agencies.

Looking ahead into the new year, we are left with so many questions, and so many fears. How will the new system function? How will Guatemalan families unable to care for their children manage? Will the new system in fact function, or is the new law a way to eliminate adoptions quietly?

The initial signs are disquieting, to say the least. The new Adoptions Law was passed through heavy international pressure in December, with a very short implementation period and with many questions left open as to how the law would work in practice, how women in need could access adoption services, and what requirements adoptive parents would have to follow. Moreover, the Guatemalan media was filled with commentaries and official quotes stating that, under the new law, an adoption would take at least two years to complete and that the new law’s requirements would have the effect of drastically reducing the number of adoptions.
Notice that Guatemalan officials were not quoted as saying that the new law would reduce the need for adoptions. No, these officials appear to be concerned only with reducing the number of adoptions. Perhaps they honestly believe that the thousands of adoptions over the past several years reflect a corrupt, money-driven system that somehow paid thousands of women to get pregnant and sell their babies to the highest bidder. And perhaps some portion of their claims/concerns are true. Yet equally true are the stories that birth families have conveyed face to face to many adoptive families. Stories of dire poverty and secret pregnancies. Stories of illness and too many children to provide for.

Our worry must also be mixed with genuine outrage. UNICEF and various NGOs that purport to care about women and children might want to take a look at a recent study published in Science Magazine. The study shows the severe harm done to children through institutionalization and the benefits of foster care as a temporary measure for children waiting for forever families. Yet the law that they urged Guatemala to pass does away with foster care. Further proof (if we needed any) that, for UNICEF and organizations like Casa Alianza, the well-being of children is the least of their concerns.

The new Central Authority is not yet running, with only days until the new law takes effect. Where are the counselors who will be able to provide women with advice and assistance? Where are the children’s homes to care for children who cannot remain in their biological families? We as an adoption community are about to find out. More importantly, so are the children of Guatemala. Posted by Lee at December 31, 2007 05:58 PM

Happy Holi-Hanua-Kwanza!

2007-12-22T22:43:00.000-05:00

My friend Terri sent me a link to this poem on another blog - The Potter's Hand ! It fits in perfectly with my post from yesterday!!
Enjoy!

Twas the month before Christmas
When all through our land,
Not a Christian was praying
Nor taking a stand.
Why the Politically Correct Police had taken away,
The reason for Christmas - no one could say.
The children were told by their schools not to sing,
About Shepherds and Wise Men and Angels and things.
It might hurt people’s feelings, the teachers would say
December 25th is just a ‘Holiday ‘.
Yet the shoppers were ready with cash, checks and credit
Pushing folks down to the floor just to get it!
CDs from Madonna, an X BOX, an I-pod
Something was changing, something quite odd!
Retailers promoted Ramadan and Kwanzaa
In hopes to sell books by Franken & Fonda.
As Targets were hanging their trees upside down
At Lowe’s the word Christmas - was no where to be found.
At K-Mart and Staples and Penny’s and Sears
You won’t hear the word Christmas;it won’t touch your ears.
Inclusive, sensitive, Di-ver-si-ty
Are words that were used to intimidate me.
Now Daschle, Now Darden, Now Sharpton, Wolf Blitzen
On Boxer, on Rather, on Kerry, on Clinton !
At the top of the Senate, there arose such a clatter
To eliminate Jesus, in all public matter.
And we spoke not a word, as they took away our faith
Forbidden to speak of salvation and grace.
The true Gift of Christmas was exchanged and discarded
The reason for the season, stopped before it started.
So as you celebrate ‘Winter Break’ under your‘Dream Tree’
Sipping your Starbucks, listen to me.
Choose your words carefully, choose what you say
Shout MERRY CHRISTMAS, not Happy Holiday !

Return to Sender

2007-12-21T11:29:00.000-05:00

Our "Merry Christmas" Candy Cane gift

"Merry Christmas!" said 7 year old Meghan as she handed her classmate a present.

"Thank you Meghan!"

"You're Welcome" she replied as she continued to pass out candy canes to each of her classmates during her lunch period at school.

Her teacher had given her permission to pass out her Christmas gifts at lunch, and Meghan was enjoying blessing her friends. She was so excited to give them to her friends and teachers this year that she just couldn't wait till the "Winter Party" 2 days later. She had even reminded her mom a few weeks earlier to "not forget" to get candy canes this year to pass out like she did the previous years.

Lovingly attached to each cane with bright red ribbon was a handmade note. It was the same note that has been attached to candy canes given out by Meghan and her siblings for over 8 years . . . . . a reminder of what Christmas is all about and a Holiday greeting from Meghan.

A Gift for You

I hope you enjoy this candy cane.

As you take it in your hand, turn it upside down and you will see the "J" that reminds us of Jesus who was born on Christmas Day.

Turn it back upright and you will see the crook that reminds us that He is the Good Shepherd.

The stripes are a reminder that He was beaten for us.

The red color reminds us how He shed His blood for us on Calvary.

The white tells us how He can wash our sins white as snow.

As you taste this candy cane be reminded that fellowship with Jesus is ever so sweet.

Merry Christmas!

From Meghan West

As lunch was ending, Meghan's teacher returned to collect her students and take them back to class. She saw one of the cards on a student's tray and read it. The kids went back to class after a bathroom break, and the day would go on as each and every day has so far this year. . . . . with one exception. . . .

---------------------

Meghan arrived home on Wednesday, happy as usual and excited to see her Grandmom and Aunt who had just come over to visit. I was sitting on the couch, trying to enjoy the visit despite my pounding headache, sore throat and exhaustion. I greeted Meg as usual, she got her snack, and then got out her backpack to do homework. She handed me a note. I assumed it was from her teacher explaining why Meghan was "off task" today or some other issue. Her teacher has been very patient and creative in trying to find what will "work" for Meghan in the area of attention and focusing on the work she needs to do. It's been a frustrating year as I see so much potential in my intelligent daughter, but she day-dreams the days away many times. This would not have been the first note that has been sent home.

Imagine my surprise to read instead -

"Mrs. West,

Thank you so much for the treats.

But the administration has kindly asked that the cards be returned.

Thank you again!

Mrs. 'Teacher' "

Attached to the note were 4 of the handmade cards that had been attached to the candy canes! Meghan told me that once they were back at class the teacher had asked the kids to remove the cards from the candy canes and give them to the teacher so she could return them to me. No explanation was given as to why.

I could feel it deep inside . . . my blood was starting to churn. . . . . I tried to remain calm (and looked that way on the outside) but my insides were burning! I was sad and hurt as we had made those gifts to bless people and the teacher had the audacity to ask the kids to remove part of their "gift" and return it! And I was especially frustrated as I knew that it was only because it was "religious" - ie. CHRISTIAN - in nature.

I couldn't concentrate on "chatting" anymore. I had to do something. So I looked up information from the ACLJ (Amercian Center for Law and Justice - they fight for Constitutional rights - especially religious freedom of speech) regarding whether we had done anything wrong with mentioning Jesus on our Christmas card/gift. I found an almost identical case back in 2004 in Oregon - and the school system decided to "change their mind" (and policies) about it all and settled out of court. I looked up some more info, called the ACLJ - and then made a call to the teacher.

I won't go into the whole conversations with the teacher and then the Assistant Principal (who I was passed off to) as they were not pleasant. I tried to remain calm (but probably wasn't) and not say things I would regret later, and I just tried to let them know that I was hurt, that it was rude and disrespectful to myself and my daughter, and that it was my daughter's Constitutional right to give a card with the word "Jesus" on it. There had been no wrong-doing on my daughter's part. They told me it was done because they were not allowed to send home things of a religious nature! Hmmm . . . what about all the Hanakah menorrahs and Kwanza cups and Muslim projects the kids have been bringing home all week?! Are those not "religious"????!!!

I didn't get an apology. Instead the Assistant Principal was going to contact the legal dept and let me know - but he didn't think they did anything wrong. I felt very patronized by him and that he was just wanting to push this under the rug, but was willing to do a little research for me.

I sent an email to the principal - trying to state our position and what happened in an intelligent, hopefully non-threatening way and saying that - "overall we have enjoyed our kid's excellent teachers at "this school". We were hesitant at first when we were rezoned here a couple years ago from "another school". But the staff, administration, and kids have all been wonderful. I hope that our remaining years at "this school" will be just as good."

Yesterday my husband Jeremy got the story on CBN News - but asked them to withhold all names - the school's, teacher's, ours, etc - as we were not out to smear the school or teacher, but wanted to get the word out to people that we DO have a Constitutional RIGHT to be able to pass out Christian Christmas cards/gifts!!! It was aired today.

Here are 3 different versions depending on how fast your connection is to the internet.

High quality

Medium quality

Low quality

This should play correctly in Windows Media Player on your PC.

The story is about 12 minutes and 23 seconds into the video. You can drag the play slider in the player to get to that section without having to watch the first 12 minutes.

They did a pretty good job summarizing the incident and Gordon had some good commentary about it afterward.

------------------

So - today the school had a "Winter Party" for youngest son's kindergarten class. . . . . . and YES! I did send his candy canes to school!!!! And his teacher LIKED them! :) She even commented about the button I was wearing that said "It's OK - Wish me a Merry Christmas!". She said she liked it! :) I knew she would! The kids even sang the song "Silent Night" (all about Jesus' birth!). My camera batteries kept dying on me - but miraculously it stayed on throughout that WHOLE song (and shut off right as it ended)!!

2 funny things about this week - on Wed. my kindergartener's class had a Polar Express Day at school and got to come in his PJ's, drink hot cocoa, read the story and make a craft. They made little trains out of candy. Now this is a CHRITMAS story - right? Well, the train had a tag on it that said - "A Happy Holiday Train"! ????? Hunh? Do the Jewish people get on trains to light their menorrahs? What about the Kwanza or Muslim celebrations? As far as I know, the last time Jews all got on trains was when they were being transferred to concentration camps. So why bother calling this a "Holiday" train? What other Holiday do we have stories about riding on a trian? (if anyone knows - let me know!) Here's a picture of the train and tag!

The other funny thing was the entryway display at my kid's school! Smack in the middle of the entryway is a Christmas tree with 2 HUGE sign displays (text and pictures) on either side. One side said "Happy Kwanza!" The other side - "Happy Hanakah!" My 10 year old son asked - "So, where is the Merry Christmas sign?!" Oh - I wish I had taken a picture of it!! I didn't think to do that till I got home. It was kind of comical considering what's happened this week! :)

So I was at peace today - expectantly waiting for a call from the Principal or Assistant Principal (or even the teacher . . . .Heck! Even a note from the teacher!) saying they were sorry for what happened and that they were wrong.

HA!!!!

Instead I got a call (from the A.P.) stating that they were right! Another very patronizing call that lacked real evidence - other than "I'm just a policy-keeper and doing what the Assistant Superintendant told me to do." He couldn't even point me in the direction of the specific policy - but said that they just couldn't pass out things of a religious nature (it might offend someone else!) - and that my daughter couldn't pass it out in a way that would "interfere with the instructional day"! Hmmm. . . . . I don't think she hindered the instructional day in any way (it was during lunch!) . . . AND she had permission to pass it out . . . AND the teacher was not the one passing it out . . . AND it said Meghan's name on it - not the school's or teacher's . . . .AND Meghan was not trying to get anyone to convert to Christianity right then and there or forcing the kids to take the candy or cards . . . AND . . . .. Ok - don't get me started again! :)

It's a shame that giving a simple Christmas gift and card would end up like this. With all the stressors of the season and the busyness in our house right now - I was tempted to let the whole thing slide. . . . . . . .but then what would happen next year? What would happen to other kids trying to give Christmas cards? Would they ban me from passing out cupcakes with the name Jesus on it (for HIS Birthday?!)? . . . . . I know it's a huge fight - but for some reason I have to fight it. My Mama Bear instincts have kicked in! Don't mess with my cubs!! :)

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!!

ps - I'll have to update you on Wendy another time. My computer is being waaay tooo slow to do it now and I've been on waaay tooo long today looking up Constitutional law and Department of Education guidelines! :)

Wendy's first PAP's

2007-09-23T12:54:00.000-04:00

No - it's not a Pap smear! Gosh guys! Don't you know the lingo by now?! :) hee,hee.

PAP stands for Prospective Adoptive Parents. Why am I talking about Wendy's first PAP's? Did you even know that she had another family wanting to adopt her? Let me back up.

We knew that Wendy ended up at Casa Bernabe because she had been placed for adoption at some point before she was 15 months old, but her birth mom never showed up for the DNA testing. That's all we knew. We speculated on some things, but we never really had concrete info, as CB didn't really know. All during the adoption I was dying to find out more history on her first 15 months of life - who wanted to adopt her? What really happened? Did the previous PAPs name her from birth, or did she live with her mom/family for awhile? We just knew nothing. I know that Wendy will have questions when she gets older, so I really wanted to find out. However, I really didn't want to do any "digging" until our adoption was complete. Now that it is, I wanted to start trying to look for her previous PAPs. I wasn't sure if I would even find them as it's been a few years, and I wasn't 100% sure they would want to be found or would be happy to know we adopted her. I didn't want to bring up the heartbreaking feelings they must have felt when they lost Wendy's adoption. I didn't even know what the circumstances were - if they had decided not to try to adopt her when she became an abandonment case, or if they had fought to keep her, and what happened. Anyways . . . .all this to say - God hears our cries!

I had not even started looking yet, when, last Thursday, a woman named Kelly who I had become friends with from my agency (through our adoptions and similar life/family situations) said she had seen a post on an adoption forum of someone looking for the family that adopted a "Wendy" recently. Through a series of emails between my friend and this person, and then that person and another (3rd) woman - the 3rd woman's info got passed back to me as the possible previous PAP for our Wendy!!! (did I just confuse you??) She was 99% sure after seeing this blog (sent to her by the second lady, who got it from my friend!). The 3rd lady sent me her name and number . . . . and don't you know I called her immediately!!! I left a message and she called me right back. WOW!! God is sooo cool!! After quickly comparing some info - we realized that our little Wendy was the same Wendy that she and her family had tried to adopt in 2005 when Wendy was 1!!! I was in shock that God totally led her to me in such a quick way (and a big THANK YOU to my friend Kelly for making the connections!!!!!!!!)! AND . . . . this woman is a woman after my own heart!!! She saved all sorts of pics and info on Wendy . . . which she so graciously is passing on to us!!! What a woman! God bless her!!! We talked for about an hour on the phone, and she sent me several emails of info, and will be sending me some CD's with pics &/or videos too!! Wow! I can't wait! It was such a pleasure to talk with her, hear about her daughter they ended up bringing home last year, and how this has been such a blessing to her, as it brings closure to her and her family. They loved Wendy and were so worried that she had been sent to a gov't orphanage and wouldn't get out of there. They were so happy to know that she was well cared for and loved at Casa Bernabe (we are too!!!)!

So - here's what I learned - Evidentaly Wendy was placed for adoption when she was 1 and that's when this family got her referral. They were totally in love with her! Can you see why?After a few months, however, Wendy's birth mom came and took Wendy back. This was devastating news to this family (can you imagine?)! They accepted another referral, but after that one fell through too (can you feel their pain?) they were told that Wendy was back, but that she would be an abandonment case (as her mom was no longer in the picture) and did they want to continue? . . . . Of course they did!!! So they did everything they were supposed to . . . filed papers, wrote letters, sent pictures, etc. And despite it all - the "abandonment decree" was denied (NOW can you feel their pain?!). Who knows for what reason the judge denied it - but as both the previous adoptive mom and I said - "It was meant to be"! We are thrilled that we were able to adopt Wendy as she truly fits into our family perfectly and is a true West, and the other family has adopted a BEAUTIFUL little girl that fits perfectly into their family! Isn't God good??!!

Well, as you can see - I was on cloud 9 last Thursday - and feel so blessed to have had my prayers answered so quickly and easily!! We still don't know anything about her 1st year of life, but we assume she was living with her mom &/or her family. We do have more info on her mom's age, grandparents names, and some early medical info (from 1 year till the orphanage) - and that's a blessing.

God bless you all today! May God answer the cries of your heart and bless you above and beyond what you could ever imagine!!!

Blessings
Lori :)

No mas Wendy . . . Katie Giraffe!

2007-09-11T13:32:00.000-04:00

Yes folks - our 3 year old has decided that she no longer wants to be called Wendy . . . . her name is now . . . Katie Giraffe! Or Katie Monkey-girl, or Sugar-booger, or . . . . . . basically anything silly! :) She's a goof-ball! But we love her still!!! :) hee,hee.

Yesterday I took her to Walmart and she got to ride in the shopping cart for the first time. She LOVED it! She just laughed and giggled whenever I turned, and especially when we went in the bumpy parking lot! I think it was tickling her butt!!! She couldn't stop laughing!

We are enjoying watching her experience her "firsts" - first time sleeping in her bed, first time pooping in her bed (diarrhea! Yuck!), first time putting toilet paper in the toilet (instead of the trash can like in Guatemala), first time not having to wear her "zapatos" (shoes) all day in the house, first time having to watch her siblings go to school and she had to stay home (there were tears involved with that), first time fishing with daddy and eating most of the hotdogs (bait), and many more! She's having to learn a lot of new things - or new ways of doing things. Today she wanted to clear my breakfast bowl and plate. I had eaten a half of a grapefruit. She decided to try to flush it down the toilet. I guess she figured, since you put TP in there, you must put other things too - like grapefruit rinds. :) hee,hee. I had the fun job of fishing it out. Thankfully there was nothing else in there to fish it out of! Yuck.

Well - just wanted to let you know that Wendy (Katie Giraffe) is doing well! She fits right in and acts as if she has been here a long time. She takes her naps well (no arguing at all - she even WANTS to take them!!), sleeps well, eats well, and loves playing with her siblings! Thank you guys for all your prayers for her and us! They have truly worked. Keep them up! I know this honeymoon phase will wear off some after awhile - but I hope it's still just as good around here then!

Blessings!
Lori :)

We're home!

2007-09-08T21:07:00.000-04:00

Wow! Are we really home with our little girl? It just doesn't seem real sometimes, yet at other times it seems like she's been here awhile. She really is doing well. I know it's just the "honeymoon" season still, but I hope that after that's over, we will all continue to do well. You know we are praying through it all! And God has been sooooo faithful to answer so many of our prayers! We are blessed!

We left Guatemala around 1pm (3pm VA time) - and Wendy LOVED the plane ride!!! She was sooo excited to get on the plane (which she talked about for 3 days before) - that she was hoping up and down at the gate saying "El Avion! El Avion! El Avion!" and talking to everyone (saying Hola, etc). She excitedly pointed out all the other airplanes and "carros" (cars), and when we took off she was all smiles! There was a slight "dip" at one point, and she LOVED it! Her mouth was wide open in a huge smile! But within 10 minutes she was asleep! It was close to her naptime and we had had alot of excitement that day! I was surprised she could sleep with the high-pitched, ear-piercing screaming coming from the baby behind me! I felt sorry for that couple! Ouch!
Wendy did well on the rest of the flight to Atlanta - and on the flight home. We fed her some Ben and Jerry's ice cream (God is so good to bless me with putting a B&J's right next to our gate!!! PTL!), and it wound her up! She was, again, bouncing down the jetway, and talking/rambling on and on and on in spanish - and I'm not sure it was even real sentences - but just a bunch of random Spanish words. I could understand a few of them. :) We finally put on a movie for her and Meg, and she settled down some for the rest of the flight.

We flew in late last night, about 10:30pm, and didn't get home till close to midnight (and we had a wonderful sign waiting for us at home!)We had such wonderful friends meet us at the airport to welcome Wendy home! Thank you so much guys! It meant alot! Even though Wendy seemed quiet last night, meeting everyone, I tell you what - that girl can talk!!! :) Just you wait till she gets settled in! And her giggle cracks me up! I love hearing it! In the parking garage at the airport, Jeremy buckled Wendy into her carseat, and she started crying - probably because she was tired, but more than likely because she has never ridden in a car seat before (that I know of). She settled down quickly, and before we knew it Jacob was making her laugh! The kids all learned the Spanish word for crazy - and was asking her if each of her family members were "loco". She would laugh and say "si" or "no". At first all the boys were loco and the girls were not, and then she switched it - except daddy was always loco (and he is! :) hee,hee.). We came home, and the boys excitedly showed her some things in the house, and where her room was. She went up to her bed and said "Wendy cama!" (Wendy's bed). We got ready for bed, and when I asked "Who wants to pray first?", it was a tie between Jacob's "ME!" and Wendy's "YO!" :) How cute! Jacob said that Wendy could pray first "since she was the youngest". She said her prayers in Spanish, thanking God for each of her family members. That just tickled my heart! We had prayed together on Thursday night in Guatemala, and I was trying to help her pray in Spanish, and she stopped me saying "No Mami! Yo puedo!" (No mommy. I can!). She's definitely 3!! Her favorite things to say are (in Spanish, of course) - I want . . . I don't want . . . and I can (do it)! :) She is also a total ham - just like her big brother Jacob! She just fits in perfectly.
As I sit and write this, she is content in her bed - and even yelled out "Good-Night!" to me and Jeremy when we were in the room. :) She'll be speaking circles around us in English before we know it!

In Atlanta, at Immigration, I noticed that the other adoptive families didn't have their last names doubled on their paperwork like ours (West West). The Immigration official said that her Certificate of Citizenship would be sent to us with her name as it is on the paperwork - Wendy Elizabeth West West. I asked if there was any way to change that first, and he was going to try - as they had to fix a mistake on our address too. We'll see. We will probably have to change things anyways if we add Kathryn into her name.

Well - it's getting late, and I am exhausted. I got most of the laundry done today, and visited with my mom & dad, a couple friends, and my brother and his wife (and my adorable niece!). I've got about 10 syllabus' to read and sign for the kids' schooling, and groceries to buy, and a party to attend to tomorrow (along with church too!). So - I better get some sleep myself. I will try to upload more pics and post them when I can. Be patient with me, but check back to see them!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you for all your prayers and support along this WHOLE journey!!! I can't believe this 18 month pregnancy is finally over (except for the post-placement stuff - visits and paperwork)!!! I love my little girl, and I think she enjoys being here with us so far. She's even been able to go play with Meghan at our neighbor's house. They have a little 4 year old girl who also speaks Spanish. We've been blessed with 2 sets of Spanish speaking neighbors!!! God is good!!

Blessings to you all!

Lori :)

Wendy Elizabeth West West

2007-09-06T17:00:00.000-04:00

Yes - that's what it says on her passport and visa - Wendy Elizabeth West West. :) When they called her name (Wendy West) to pick up the visa on Wed, she just smiled a big smile! :) They put the mom's and dad's last names on the birth certificate, passport and visa. Strange - I know. Let me back up though, as I haven't had internet access since Monday.

Monday night the staff prayed over us as a family - a blessing on Wendy, the adoption and our family in general. It was all in Spanish - but I think that's what they were praying. It sounded wonderful anyways. :)

We kept Wendy with us in our dorm room Monday night, as she had cried the day before when we took her back to her house. I'm glad she wanted to sleep with us. However, like most 3 year olds, when daddy said "It's time for bed!" she started to cry. We immediately prayed for her, and Meghan prayed against the spirit of fear that might be bothering Wendy. . . . and Wendy immediately stopped crying!! :) PTL! I was starting to think "why did we decide to bring her up here when we have to get up at 5 am tomorrow? I'm not going to get any sleep?" (selfish thoughts - I know - but that's what first went through my head as I knew it would be a looooong day on Tuesday). She slept great - only once did she moan a little in her sleep (and Meg responded in her sleep - "Yes - It's ok."). And somehow in the middle of the night they switched places in bed (they were sharing a double bed). :) But she didn't fall out of bed! This was her first time in a big bed (she had been in a crib still).

So Tuesday's appt went well - about 2 1/2 hours sitting in the embassy - with about 1 1/2 minutes of interviews. :) OK - maybe 5 minutes total - between 2 interviews. :) But we were approved for an IR3 visa (meaning she will come to the US as a US citizen)! :) Whoo-hoo!

We had to come back on Wednesday to pick up the visa and the yellow envelope that we can NOT open!! We are to give it to immigration in the US.

The rest of Tuesday we went to Burger King and then the beautiful zoo in Guatemala City!

Jeremy read a small sign in B.K. that said last month they only had a "40% infestation." :) Of what - I'm not sure?? I don't want to know. :)

The zoo was absolutely gorgeous, and our day was the same - sunny skies ALL day till we got back to the orphanage!!! God answered my prayers. We went with Wendy's housedad and his 3 girls, as well as the couple from Florida that I had met online, who were visiting their soon-to-be-adopted son Juanito (who came too).

Wendy and Meghan both loved the zoo! Wendy's favorite animal was the pink Flamingo

and Meghan like the Tapir (that seemed to like her too!).

At the end of our zoo tour, J got a banana split, Meg and Wendy got fruit bars (popsicles) and I got a wonderful Chocobanano!! Yum! That hit the spot on such a sunny day!

Tues night, Wendy cried again when we said it was almost time for bed, but because I was sitting in the dining room talking with the couple from Florida, I just held her, and she eventually fell asleep in my arms. She's a good snuggler! She did fall out of bed that night, but I had put pillows by the bed this time. :)

Wednesday Antonio took us to the Children's Museum and out for lunch at Pollo Campero before we went to the embassy.

We tried to go see a Star Wars Museum (of course!) - but it was closed. Both Antonio and Jeremy LOVE Star Wars (if you didn't already know)! There was a Lego room at the Children's Museum - and it had an R2D2 in it! :)

After the embassy we went to the church of some friends of ours, and they took us down to Antigua to spend the night with them. Their house, and Antigua are just beautiful. I wish we could have stayed in Antigua all week instead!! Very peaceful! Wendy cried again when she was going upstairs to our room with our friends (and I was tagging along behind) and she just wanted to snuggle and cry. She was exhausted (only a 10 minute nap that day), and in a strange place. We just rocked in a rocking chair and I prayed over her - again rebuking & binding any spirits of fear, sadness, etc that shouldn't be there, and again - she stopped crying right away. (noticing a trend here?) We snuggled a little, then I laid her down next to Meghan on a mattress by our bed. She stared at me for awhile, and then at Meghan, and then fell asleep within about 10 minutes. Yeah! :) She slept through the night fine and woke up happy! :)

Today we had breakfast on the porch, and then spent a couple hours sightseeing. We saw the ruins in Antigua via horse and carriage (VERY bumpy!!!),

went in an old convent,

and then went to the Market (not long enough though - only 45 minutes. I could be there for hours!), and to eat lunch at a beautiful coffee plantation!!!

Just breathtaking! I think this has convinced Jeremy that he could move here now! :) hee,hee.

The down side of this trip has been Wendy's diarrhea (yuck!) and Meghan vomiting last night (double yuck!). Wendy just caught something the other kids had in her house - it started the day before we got here. Meghan - ?? - she probably just ate something not too good for her (I hope that's all it was). She hasn't eaten much today, so we'll see.

OK - well I've written long enough I think! :) I had to catch on up the week's events though. Tonight we are going back to the church in Guatemala City (right by the airport) and will stay there in an apartment. Tomorrow J will help our friends with some technical (audio/visual/computer) stuff before we head to the airport around 11am for our 1pm flight. And then we will be home around 10:15 pm (I think that was the time). Yeah!!!! Home for good!

Thank you all for your prayers! It was a beautiful day in Antigua today - when it was originally supposed to be raining and miserable from a hurricane. We only got a slight drizzle all day yesterday - actually less rain than we had earlier in the week! So Felix was a bust here! PTL!!!

God bless you all! Pray for our safe return! See you on Friday (for those that are meeting us)!!

Lori, Jeremy, Meghan and Wendy!

"Hey Mami . . . " What? "Hola!" :)

2007-09-03T19:17:00.000-04:00

Yes - we are here! And yes - Hurricane Felix is a Cat 5!!! Yikes. :) We are still praying it to move further north so as to not his us at all. We'll see. More than likely we will be touring Antigua in the rain on Thursday. :) Anyways . . . that' s not the important info . . . .

We arrived here safe and sound . . . a little tired . . . but excited. Well, J shouldn't have been tired . . . he slept the whole trip down (except to wake up to eat lunch). He then took a 2 hour nap yesterday and slept 11 hours last night (and another shorter nap today!). But - I can't blame him - I've been just as tired . . .but I'm not as sound a sleeper as he is. I've been too excited to sleep much.

It's the rainy season here, so in true rainy season fashion - it rained all day off and on yesterday. Today was better - beautiful this morning - but rainy in the afternoon.

OK, OK - enough about weather Lori! :) As for our Wendy girl . . . :)

She came up to see us with her housedad Antonio (and his two girls) and she looked beautiful! She seemed a bit shy at first, but still came to my arms and then Jeremy's without a problem. It wasn't too long after that that Wendy and Meghan were playing and giggling and having a blast together! Meghan is a GREAT big sister to Wendy and Wendy seems to love hanging out with Meghan. Yeah! :) Last night they chased each other around the dining room playing tag and giggling all the time! At one point Wendy came up to me and said "Hey Mami" What? I asked. "Hola!" she said with a smirk. :) She then went to Jeremy and did the same. So I did it right back to her! She laughed. When we first landed in GT, Meghan said "I think I want to go home already". But after playing with Wendy for less than an hour - she changed her mind! Plus there has been a couple puppies around to entertain Meghan too. :) She loves animals!

Right now I have a snuggling girl (Wendy) on my lap (she got a little over-emotional about something someone said to her here - so she needed some loving) - so I'm going to cut this short. You know I can write a book! :)

Pray that our appointment at the embassy goes well tomorrow. 8 am GT time (10 am VA time). We are hoping for good weather so that we can go to the zoo and possible Children's museum afterwards. I hope so.

Last night we took Wendy down to her house after hanging out with us all day up near our dorm room, and she was not happy about having to sleep back in her house! She cried and wanted to sleep with us! :) We had her sleep down there (as it was pouring rain at that time), but we will have her in our room tonight. She even took a nap in our room today. It makes me so happy to see that she is WANTING to be with us and seems to be attaching to us quite well. I know we have a long road ahead of us . . . but so far so good. :) Not hitting, biting, screaming, etc. :)

Here are a few pics of our day today.

Blessings to you all. I'm not sure if I'll get to post again or not. The internet is sketchy here, plus I have to ask one of Wendy's caretakers to borrow their computer.

See you friday!
Lori & Jeremy and Meghan & Wendy! :)

ps - This is what we got for dinner last night (and again tonight - frozen though)! Jeremy was excited . . . till we tasted the pizza. :( Oh well. After dinner the girls had a blast giggling and running around chasing each other!!

And now a Hurricane! What an adventure!

2007-09-02T04:02:00.000-04:00

Yes - it's 4am - the day we leave - and I'm here typing to you guys! :) I must love you all . . . either that or I'm addicted to the computer! :) The truth be told - I slept horrible these last two nights. . . . . I'm waaayyy tooo excited! :) Hmmm . . . wonder why?!
Well - I hope I've packed enough (1/2 of my suitcase is snacks! Better than orphanage food!). And whatever didn't get done will just have to wait. I'm a bit sad we didn't leave on Friday like originally planned, to be able to go a see Tikal or Lake Atitilan . . . . but that's ok. Now we might have a Hurricane instead! :) What fun. Take a look . . .

Actually - just since last night around 9pm - it has shifted more north. Keep praying it does more of that - and slows waaaay down so it doesn't get to Guatemala till Saturday! We leave on Friday, and on Thursday I had planned on seeing Antigua! Hmmm. . . . What is God trying to tell me? Not to sightsee? :)

Oops - gotta go! I've got 25 mintues to dry my hair and finish packing the last minute items!

God bless you all! Keep us in your prayers.

Wendy . . .Here we come!! - Oh, we got to talk to her some last night (she mainly just listens) - but we heard her tell someone near her "esta mi mami y papi". :) That just warms my heart! :)

Blessings
Lori :)

1 more day!

2007-09-01T08:48:00.000-04:00

I dreamed last night that we arrived at Casa Bernabe, and Jeremy picked up Wendy. She looked sad and scared. :( That's not the dream I wanted - but it could very well be a reality. We are coming to take her away from everything she has ever known for the last 2 years. It's her home. That's her family. Though, her family has changed some over the 2 years, especially this last year with some of her "friends" being adopted or having to move on to the next house (for 3-5 year olds). At 3 1/2, she's the last remaining "old" kid around. She enjoys helping out with the little ones (20 of them!)- being very motherly, and even helps out with the laundry from time to time (she can teach her older siblings here!). It will definitely be an adjustment for her coming here and being "the baby" of the house again. I hope she likes it. :) I think she will. So - my dream may really reflect my fear of her getting upset about leaving, more so than being prophetic about what will happen. Of course - every mom and dad wants an "Annie" reunion/welcome - with your child excitedly running into your arms - so excited to finally have a Forever Family. But that's not always the case. They may be excited by the thought of it - but once their Mom and Dad materialize in front of them - reality sets in - and the reactions range from timidity - to screaming or crying for hours; quietly going - to biting, kicking, hitting, and even peeing on the mom and dad (yes - that really did happen to a friend of ours!). We prepare for the worst, but pray for the best. We were pleasantly surprised in April when we visited, as Wendy spoke to us right away and didn't seem afraid at all. She was VERY good with us the whole week, and was actually a bit sad when we were not around - asking "?Donde esta mami y papi?" - Where is mommy and daddy? :) That's a good sign! So . . . . I am praying for a joyful reunion. I know that the caretakers have been preparing her to come here - talking to her most everyday about it - using the photo books we sent. When they ask her who is coming to get her soon, she says "Mami, Papi y Meghan"! :) And we will be coming . . . TOMORROW!!!! I can't believe that day is already here!!!! PTL!! It's exciting, but scary at the same time.
All the same feelings & thoughts you get before adding another child to the family start to flood your mind . . . . am I ready for another one? Will I be able to handle 5 kids? Have I done everything here I need to before she comes? What will it be like when she's here? How will the kids adjust? What do I need to be prepared to encounter or deal with (sibling jealousy? attachment or adjustment issues? etc)? Will Wendy get frustrated trying to communicate with us (with her little bit of English and our little bit of Spanish)? How quickly will she learn English? . . . . . . . . . . (you get the picture!). Deep down though - I know it will all work out as this was ALL God's plan to begin with! So, if we stick with His plan and ways and continue to seek HIM above (and about) all things - then we will make it! :) PTL!

Well - it's back to packing and spending some time with my kids here before we leave bright and early tomorrow morning! I know I've said this a million times over the last 18 months . . . but . . .Thank you all for all your prayers, encouragement and support during this fantastic adventure!! We REALLY appreciate it and needed it!! Keep praying - as we will still need your prayers. Here are our requests:

1. Safe and FUN trip to pick up Wendy! That we will actually be able to get off CB's campus several times to do fun things with Wendy and Meghan (I am NOT going to be stuck there again this time!!)
2. Easy adjustment for Wendy and our kids here. That Wendy will attach to Jeremy and I quickly and in a healthy way.
3. Easy adjustment for Jeremy and I as the parents of 5 kids - esp. with a crazy school schedule this fall! Why didn't I just homeschool them?? :)
4. The remaining finances for the adoption and travel.

Thanks so much guys! God bless you today!

Lori :)

September 4th!!!

2007-08-28T22:21:00.000-04:00

OK . . . .finally . . .the moment you have all been waiting for . . . we have our embassy appointment for 8am September 4th!!!! Yeah!!!! We are still # 21 (out of 30 couples assigned. yuck!). That just means more waiting for us. . . . of course I can pray that maybe that some of the couples won't show up (like us today). :) No - that would be mean. Anyways . . . we will probably be leaving Sunday morning as flights are MUCH cheaper than on Monday - Labor day, and coming back possibly Friday. We are hoping to see our good friend Almarie's parents in Antigua for a couple days, and it looks like we will be able to see Angela (the caretaker) before she leaves!! Oh yeah - and we will get to meet another adoptive mom I have been chatting with online who is adopting adorable Juanito, from Wendy's orphanage!!! So - see? God is good! Plus I will have taken all my antibiotics for this ear infection that cropped up on Saturday. I definitely wouldn't have wanted to fly with my ear killing me like it was!

I tell you - Today I sent 2 emails to the US embassy today and finally had to call them (3 times to get through - and then it was a horrible connection) - and got to speak to a "not-so-friendly-and-slightly-patronizing" woman - but I didn't back down and take "just wait for our email" for an answer!!! :) I think she wanted to get me off the phone and to stop asking so many questions, so she finally gave me a date and time! :) Hee,hee. Yeah! Then she told me "Remind your attorney to follow regulations as we normally do not do reschedules over the phone." - click- :) I wish he would have "followed regulations" - then I wouldn't need to be calling. :)

OK gotta run! Dinner time and lots to do here! :)

Blessings
Lori :)

Bad news . . . . . We got PINK! :)

2007-08-28T09:44:00.000-04:00

Hello Family and friends!

I was startled awake this morning by my phone ringing at 8:15 am. I wasn't coherent enough to get it before the answering machine did - so I checked the message as soon as I could. It was my adoption case worker. . . . . on her cell. . . . . . either that was going to be really good news . . . . or bad news. Hmmmm . . . .

I called her back immediately and her first words were "I have some bad news." ?? Hmmm . . . Thankfully she followed it up with "Well, it's good news, but not good news".

The funny thing is - yesterday I just KNEW she was going to call me and tell what she did! But my consolation was . . . . "well, she will totally understand - as she had it happen to her as well.".
Yes - we finally got PINK (our pink slip has our visa appointment date on it)!!! :) Normally my case worker will tell you that in excitement . . .but ours was said shortly after "I have bad news. . . . you have pink . . ." :) hee,hee. Seemed kind of out of place yet funny. The bad news is . . . our appointment is at 8am, Guatemala time (10 am VA time) TODAY!!! . . . . I don't think we can make it (ha,ha. Boy do I wish they had invented transporters already!). :( Man - bum deal. I kept praying and praying we would be down there before school started so I wouldn't miss my kids first days of school, and even a couple weeks ago I was looking at airfare and a sale was going on for $440/ticket - and I was looking at dates to be down in GT on the 28th! Ha! See . . I just knew when my appointment was supposed to be. . . . we just couldn't get it all together with the lawyer and embassy (BTW - why doesn't the embassy just email the families like they do for PA (pre-approval)? That would solve this issue of lawyers not getting the info to the parents quick enough. Oh well). So - my prayer was answered - we have an appt before school starts. But, we just can't make it! Now, hopefully, we will go down next week. If it's early enough in the week (tues or wed) then we can still see one of Wendy's caretakers before she leaves on the 4th. :)

When I told my 7 year old daughter (who will travel with us) that our appointment was today - she was all excited - till I told her we can't make it down there today. "Tomorrow then?" - No - next week hon. Then she got sad and said "NO! Not next week! You keep telling me . . . Next week . . . next week. . . next week!" Poor thing. She's been feeling the looong wait for her sister to come home (she has 3 brothers - so you can imagine her excitement over these last 18 months waiting for a sister!).

Well - I've talked long enough. Just wanted to let you know our good and bad news! :) I'll let you know when we are going as soon as we find out!

Oh - I told my mom this morning about it all . . . she was so mad (and rightfully so!). :) Mad that we couldn't be down there already, that the lawyer didn't let us know in time, etc. She is truly experiencing the emotions that we have dealt with through this journey. By this point - I've given up being mad at people for not doing what I expect them to do (or what they should do) - as, ultimately, it is in GOD's hands! He controls everything - and I have to trust HIM that this delay is for a reason! I may not ever know the reason, or I may find out some day, but I still trust God 100% - especially since I know that this adoption has been covered in tons of prayer since the beginning! So - I'm really not mad at all. I'm bit sad that I couldn't be holding my little girl today (and that I'll miss my kids first days of school) - but very excited that I will definitely be holding her soon!!!!

Blessings today!

Lori :)

I was going to tell you guys - Today - August 28th - was the due date for my first son and my last son. 3 of my babies all came7-12 days LATE. My youngest was the only one that was kind to me and came 10 days early. So my one son came Sept 8th, and the other August 18th. It's not surprising to me that my "due date" (embassy appt) is August 28th - and that we can't "deliver" till a week later! :) Wendy is definitely a WEST! :) hee,hee. What I want to know is . . . what's so wrong with August 28th that none of my kids want to be born on that day?! I think it's a great day!

Embassy closed? Entertainment books!

2007-08-21T11:20:00.000-04:00

Keep praying! Evidently the embassy was supposed to be closed all week ("not accepting new cases") due to training - and we were told that meant NOTHING would be happening this week (except the visa appointments already scheduled). However, I have found out that a couple people have received their PINK slips (visa appointment dates) and some PA's (pre-approvals) this week - so SOMEONE is still working at the embassy! :) Yeah!! There's a chance then that we could get our PINK slip this week and still travel next week. I was getting so discouraged yesterday (and frustrated at the gov't) thinking we would miss Angela, etc. Anyways . . . Please pray!

Also - I wanted to let you know that the 2008 Entertainment books are in! They came in yesterday. They are only $20 this year (for the Norfolk/Va. Beach book) - and we are selling them again because we still need to raise a few thousand dollars to pay off our final fees and travel expenses down there. this year - for buying the book, you will get a FREE 2 week membership to Entertainment on Vacation - for "2 weeks of savings wherever you vacation - even at home (a $9.95 value). " If you would like to help us out you can get them directly from us (call or email that you want one and we can coordinate a pickup/drop off) or you can order directly from the website using this link - Entertainment book - or the link on the sidebar (click on the picture of the book). There will probably be a S&H charge when ordering online. If you do not live in the Norfolk/Va. Beach area - you can still order a book for your area through the web link. :) *Make sure the blue box at the top of the Entertainment.com site says you are supporting the "Best of the Wests". Thanks.*

And if any of you have it on your heart to help us out with our adoption fundraising and sell these books - please pass on this info to your family and friends - or let us know if you need local books to sell (to your co-workers, neighbors, etc) and we can get them to you - especially before the schools start selling them. :) For every book YOU sell - you would also receive a FREE Entertainment on Vacation 2 week membership, PLUS a chance to win a 32" Plasma-screen TV, Starbucks gift cards, and many other great prizes! (I'm warning you though - I'm gonna win that TV! hee,hee.)

Thank you all who have helped us sell last year! We really appreciated all the help you gave!!! Every little bit helps and gets us closer to our goal of bringing Wendy home!!

Thank you for everything!
Blessings today!
Lori :)

In the Embassy!!!

2007-08-18T08:56:00.000-04:00

Most of you know this already (as I couldn't help but scream for joy . . . via email of course) - but . . . . . .
We are currently IN THE EMBASSY!!! Well - our case is. . . . . . waiting for PINK - the pink slip they issue stating the date and time of your visa appointment to bring your little one home. We were submitted on Thursday - but I found out Friday morning. This has been a good week (on top of celebrating our 15th Anniversary, going to Busch Gardens with the kids, and celebrating 2 kids' b-days)!

I had not heard anything from my agency since last week when they said that Casa Bernabe was responsible for getting Wendy's new Birth Certificate and passport - and that they had not done that yet. :( I emailed them again early this week. On Wed I my case worker finally had news for us that CB did get Wendy's BC and passport!! Yeah. I also heard from Wendy's housedad that he had gone to pick it up on Monday. It is a happy time for him, but sad as well - as he loves Wendy and has been her "Papi" for 2 years. I can't even imagine having to let these little ones go that you have helped to raise and that you love. It's got to be hard. The only other option is to distance yourself from them - emotionally,etc - but then they don't get the love they need. God bless Antonio and Carmen for loving those kids!

So Wendy has a B.C. and passport that say "Wendy Elizabeth West" on it! Kind of cool, eh? :) They automatically put her first and middle names (that she currently has) and her new last name on the documents. Then when she comes home - if we want to change her name, we would fill out the appropriate forms here to do that. We are still talking about adding Kathryn in there - either first or middle name. But I really feel we need to talk to Wendy about it - so that may be awhile. We'll see. No matter what her name is - we love her!!! Maybe Kathryn is supposed to be for our next child. . . . . . um . . . . did I just say "next child"?? . . . . . hmm . . . . I'm leaving that one up to God. :) You just never know. Now that I'm no longer in the "4-no-more" club - and adding 1 more just means it's still just as chaotic here as before . . . . . what's the big deal about adding one more? :) Though - we would definitely need a 12 passenger van then! :) J wants one already. It would be nice to have more space in the van. That's for sure.

Well - that's about it for now. We are waiting to hear from the embassy about our date to travel. It usually takes a week to hear back - though I heard rumors that the embassy might be closed next week for some training?? Can't find that anywhere online though. I'm looking into that! I hope not - or at least I hope it doesn't affect them issuing me my PINK slip next week. So . . . we could travel in 2 weeks . . . or 3-4 weeks . . . . we'll see. But - it WILL be soon!!! Yeah!

Blessings
Lori :)
ps - Thank you to everyone who was praying for Wendy, her caretakers and the babies in the baby house last week. I have not called again or heard how everyone is doing - but I am believing they are getting better. I will probably call again this weekend. Keep praying for their health and safety! And keep praying in the remaining funds we need for this adoption! God is so good and faithful - but we always have to do our part! God bless you for doing yours!!! You are a blessing!

Getting closer . . . and Juanito

2007-08-10T19:23:00.000-04:00

Sorry I haven't posted lately. I was hoping that this week I would be posting that we had been submitted to the US Embassy. :( Unfortunately . . . we did not get that news. That means that now it is looking like we won't be in Guatemala till the last week of August at the earliest - but more likely it will be September. Not what I wanted at all. I REALLY wanted to go down the week of August 20th - be home the week before school started - so we could spend a little time all together as a family before all the kids started school. Doesn't that sound like a good plan to you? :) Me too. God has other plans though - evidentally.

The one benefit of going the first week of September - would to be able to finally meet (in person) my friend Kris - who I met online and is adopting adorable little Juanito from Wendy's orphanage. They are going down to visit him then. You can check out her blog at http://www.4juanito.blogspot.com/. Their local paper did a story on them - click here - or find it on their blog. You can see video footage of Juanito (taken by us) and some video of Kris and her family. Please pray for their adoption. Juanito has a heart condition that needs surgery - so we are praying that their adoption goes quickly. Pray that he stays healthy too. Speaking of which . . .
Many of you got an email from me earlier this week asking for prayer for the babies at Wendy's orphanage. There is a nasty respiratory virus (worse than bronchitis - so I've been told) going around - and it has hit the littlest babies the hardest. There are about 20 babies in that house & several of them have to be on a nebulizer 3 times a day. The caretakers need prayer - to take care of all these kiddos, to stay healthy, and to get more help. Everyone needs prayer to stay/get healthy. Keep praying. It's not good for Juanito especially. Pray for his protection and health. I called and talked with Wendy this week - and she sounded a little congested - but not too bad. But still pray for her health as well. It just makes me want to go down and rescue her and bring her home now!

Well - today has been a slightly "down" day for me (too hormonal I think). With hearing that we haven't been submitted yet, and knowing that it will be even longer to go get Wendy, and having a dream last night of Wendy hugging me saying "I've missed you soooooo much", and it being Friday (ie - meaning no news for at least another 3 days) . . . . . I've held back the tears today. I just want to get on a plane tomorrow and be with my little girl till she can come home. I wish all my kids had passports (and we had the money) - and I would totally take us all down there tomorrow. :) . . . . . ahhh . . I can dream, eh? Some of my yahoo forum "friends" have done just that. I'm jealous.

So . . . . . Please pray for:
-Me (and J - and the kiddos here)
-Wendy (her health and protection - and her transition to our home/family)
-Juanito (and the Dreyer's who are adopting him)
-The orpahange to get Wendy's Birth Cert and passport QUICKLY!!!!!!!!!
-To be submitted to the US Embassy (in Guatemala) for our visa appointment
-For our remaining finances (I should find out soon how much we have left to pay)

Thank you guys! You are a blessing!!

Lori :)

It's a girl!!!

2007-07-25T21:06:00.000-04:00

Some of you have already heard me screaming with joy today. Why was I screaming?

The news you have all been waiting for . . . . . . . . . (drum roll please) . . . . .

We have a daughter!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
OK - so you know we already have a daughter. What I mean is . . .

We are out of PGN!!

What the heck is PGN? . . . . don't you know? . . . . Haven't you been reading my blog? :) Well, for those that have just been skimming through my lengthy posts . . . it's the Attorney General's court in Guatemala that decides the fate of our adoption. Mr. Barrios (the director/attorney general/whatever his title is) signed off on our case and approved us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! But here's the funny thing . . . .

A month ago I put a donation widget on our blog, and I had to list an "end date" for the donations. I looked at the calendar and said "Hmm . . . I bet we'll get out on the 24th. That's a good date." So that's what I put (I later changed it as I started doubting last week). Even yesterday I woke up and said "OK Lord. Today's a good day to get out of PGN". But then I didn't hear anything all day. This morning around 11:10am, the phone rang and I thought "Wouldn't it be nice if that was Mandy calling me" (my case worker). And it was!!! She sounded happy - so I didn't think it was bad news. And it wasn't! Yeah!!!!!!!!!

So - we will travel in 4-6 weeks. Our lawyer needs to get Wendy's new birth certificate (with Wendy Elizabeth West on it!) and her passport. Then he can submit us to the US embassy for her visa appointment. When they make our appointment, they will issue us a PINK slip (our appt date) and we will travel 1 to 1 and a half weeks later!!! Can you believe it?!!! Wendy could be here by mid-August! No wonder I've been "nesting" these last 2 weeks! Our 15th Anniversary is on August 15th, and I can't think of a better present than to be able to travel down and bring our daughter home!!! For our 10th anniversary we got Jacob! :) What priceless gifts!

Please pray for us to travel in 4 weeks (or sooner)- before school starts. 6 weeks will be a crazy time to travel (don't want to miss the kids first days of school and I don't want to take Meg out of school to travel). Also pray for the remaining finances needed for this adoption. I know that God will provide! He has so far! God is good!!!

Well - folks . . . .stay tuned for the departure date! Thank you sooooooooo much for the many, many, many prayers, support and encouragement over these last 17 months. We have totally appreciated it and needed it!! It's still surreal that this part of the journey is almost over! I'm excited for what God will do next in our lives with Wendy home! God has good and perfect plans!

Blessings!
Lori :)

Wendy's ABC Adventure!

2007-07-15T16:00:00.000-04:00

Just for fun . . .

Watch our "talented" and very "experienced" little girl in her own adventure! :) hee,hee.

Or you can check it out at this link: Wendy's ABC Adventure

Blessings!
Lori :)+

Waiting . . .

2007-07-13T12:22:00.000-04:00

I sat down to write a song or poem about the waiting we've done to bring our little girl home - but what came out was more from the perspective of an orphaned (older) child. It's still a work in progress. Haven't decided whether to put it to music or not. It's been a long time since I've tried writing songs. :) I'm a bit rusty. Maybe I'll get my hubby to help. He's much better at it!!

Let me know what you think.

Lori :)

Waiting . . .

Waiting . . .
For a family to love
Waiting . . .
For a gift from above.
Waiting . . .
Will the day ever come?
I'm waiting.

Waiting . . .
For a parent's hand
Waiting . . .
For a brand new land
Waiting . . .
Do you understand?
I'm waiting . . .

Lonely and longing
A sense of belonging
Desiring to know how it feels
Safe and secure
In a love that is sure
As the wound in my heart heals

Here I am . . .
Ready to love
Here I am . . .
Sent from above
Here I am . . .
Today, can't you see?
Here I am.

Here I am . . .
Going home!
Here I am . . .
I'm not alone!
Here I am . . .
In a family!
Here I am.

Lonely no more
Someone opened the door
Of their mind and heart to see
The beauty of love
That is sent from above
in the form of a Family.

Waiting . . .
No more
Wonder . . .
What's in store
Wishing . . .
That more could stop
Waiting.

God is so GOOD!

2007-07-12T16:06:00.001-04:00

Thanks to some investigation, and some info from a few friends - I was able to contact the USCIS office about our re-fingerprinting (to see if we really had to pay another $140 to get them redone, as we are almost done with this adoption). This is what they told me:

According to the Federal Register (Volume 72, Number 203) Effective 7-30-2007, Prospective Adoptive Parents who have I-600A applications with an I-171H approval notice that expires on or after July 30, 2007 can file a one time extension to waive fingerprint biometric services. Request for fingerprint clearance update must be made in writing, with a copy of the I-171H attached. Fingerprint appointments will be scheduled when the request for extension has been received.

YEAAHHHH!!!!!! WHOO-HOO! PTL!!! God is so good! OK - well, it's the gov't who is giving us the break - but I am thankful to God for my inquisitive nature and for following up on it! :)

So - that's one prayer down. :) Now . . . keep praying for the others!!

Oh - and another praise report - Jake's stye popped some yesterday. I was able to get some puss out before he started freaking out and throwing a royal fit and not allowing me to get any more out (he's a big boy and hard to hold down by myself!). I'm going to try again today - if the stye will cooperate! PTL it is healing!

Thanks for your prayers. Keep it up!

Blessings
Lori :)
ps - We called Wendy yesterday. I LOVE hearing her sweet voice saying "I love you" and "Hola Mami". :) I love her so much! I want her home now!!

Soon . . . . . .

2 weeks away?

2007-07-10T15:38:00.000-04:00

13 weeks today. . . .since we entered PGN. But - to be totally fair - it's only been 5 1/2 weeks since we were resubmitted. So - can I really complain? . . . . I can try. :) hee,hee. Actually - I found out that Mr. Barrios (the man who approves our adoption in GT) is signing off on cases that were last submitted around May 15th. We were logged in on June 1st (despite the lawyer taking it down there on May 21st) - so that means we are about 2 weeks away from being approved. . . . God willing. That's good news! :) Yeah! However, I can't count my chicks before the eggs hatch. You just never know with this adoption process. Even though some people have gotten through in 3-4 weeks recently (don't know how that happened . . .hmmmm . . .) - most people are getting through PGN in 8 weeks (if they didn't have a KO - and about 8 weeks after the KO). So - we are really right on target based on our last submit date.

Seeing as our fingerprints expire August 10th - there is really no way to be approved and get down to GT before the 10th - unless they approve us today or tomorrow or some time REALLY soon. It takes 4-6 weeks to get our visa appt - so more than likely, we will be going down to GT around the end of August. As much as it irks me that we have to pay $140 to have "valid" fingerprints for the last couple weeks of our adoption - it's ok. It's only $140 and a little time out of our schedules - and Wendy is worth WAAAAYY more than that!!!

Please pray we are approved soon; that we get "PINK" quickly (that's our visa appt), and that we can travel before school starts. Meg is coming with us, and I really don't want to have to take her out of school right at the beginning of the school year.
Continue to pray for the remaining finances. I'm not worried. Just want wisdom.
Pray for Jacob's right eyelid that is totally swollen with a huge stye! It is trying to come to a "head" and pop. Yuck. So - pray it either pops or goes away miraculously! We don't want him to have to have surgery like he did last summer.

Oh - I didn't tell you. God is so cool! I sent out several emails to some teams/people going down to Casa Bernabe soon, to see if any of them could take down Wendy's book and earrings for us. Only 1 person responded (well - since then a couple more have - but they couldn't take stuff). . . . and what a GOD connection it was!! It is a wonderful team from Ohio that will bring Wendy's things to her. One person on the team knew Wendy since when she first arrived, and is supposed to be sending me some pics of her!! Another woman (a fellow nurse) is hoping to adopt a little girl who lives above Wendy (it's a 2 story building), and another family is hoping to adopt an older boy from CB. Out of the 150+ kids there - we really only met one older child . . . and it was this boy! What are the chances? :) Anyways - I've been blessed (and hopefully these people have been blessed as well) at chatting with these people and getting to know them. They are a wonderful group of people! I have some more prayer warriors on my side in bringing Wendy home, and some possible connections to families who are adopting from Casa Bernabe (in case Wendy wants to meet any of her former friends, etc). God is so cool. He has reasons for our delays - and I am glad that He has used our delay in bringing Wendy home to be able to encourage and connect with others, and hopefully be a blessing. You never know what God will do with these relationships!

Thank you all for checking in us and for continuing to keep us in your prayers! We are so grateful!

Blessings
Lori :)

Approved by first reviewer!

2007-07-02T13:33:00.000-04:00

Friday - we had just arrived at our campground to spend a weekend with nature, when my cell phone rang. :) (Hey - I have to still be in touch with the "real world" somewhat!) It was Mandy - our case manager with KAS. She was calling to update us. I was hoping to hear "You are out of PGN" . . . but we didn't. She did tell us that they had someone call PGN and get some info for us. They found out that we have been approved by the first reviewer, and are onto the second reviewer/advisor/whatever they are called. :) After an approval there - it has to be signed off by "the big man" and we are officially Wendy's parents (once the adoption decree is signed)! :) Yeah!!! We would travel about 4-6 weeks later. There's no way to say how long this second reviewer will take and if they will still kick us out at all for something. But - I hope it goes quickly.
So - it wasn't exactly the news I was hoping for - but it was still Great news and it made me happy! :) We're coming soon Wendy!!

On another happy note - I got the book today that I made for Wendy. I LOVE it! It's a hard covered book and it looks great! Now I just need to get it down to her.

We had fun camping at Westmoreland State Park in Virginia (about 3 hours from here). It has a beach that has a large concentration of fossils - shark's teeth, bones, etc. We had fun sifting the sand in and out of the water for the teeth and fossils. We found quite a few - even Jacob found one just washed up on the beach. :) However, the second day that I went looking, I was just about to leave, and I slammed my toe into a tree root and broke it (my toe - not the root)! Ouch! At least it happened at the very end of our trip. :) You have to climb a hilly trail to get back up from the beach - but thankfully the pain wasn't too bad until later when my toe started to bruise and swell. Overall, we had a great time (despite the rain at night). If you love "the hunt" of finding things (ie - seashells, fossils, shark's teeth, etc) - then you should check out this state park. You get to keep what you find (you can't do that in the National parks).

Well friends - thanks for praying. Keep it up! She's coming home soon! Hopefully by August! :)

Blessings!
Lori :)

I did it . . . I couldn't wait . . .

2007-06-26T13:19:00.000-04:00

Yes . . . I called PGN today. . . . I just had to know "something". The 2 people I spoke with (who spoke English quite well) were VERY nice and helpful! They even told me to call back in a week and a half! :) Basically I learned that our case is still being reviewed (I couldn't make out the name of our reviewer as he said it so fast. That's ok.) Our case was actually logged back in on June 1st. I asked if the reviewer would be done with our case in a week and a half - and the man I spoke with said "Um . . .I hope so" . . . but you never know. I won't hold my breath - but that sure would be nice! :) From what I've learned, there are 3 stages to PGN - the reviewer, the accessor (I think that was the term) and then Mr. Barrios himself (the main man who says Wendy is ours!). I don't know how long the next 2 "steps" take - but hopefully not as long as the first reviewer.
I was chuckling the other day when I was going through some initial paperwork I received from my 2 adoption agencies that I have worked with. Both of them said on their info sheets that PGN usually takes 2-4 weeks!!! LOL!!! Of course - just before we started our adoptin - it WAS taking only 2-4 weeks. Then Mr. Barrios was hired (I think it was spring 2006) - and everything slowed waaaaaaayyy down. I've heard it was to weed out the "not-so-ethical" lawyers/cases, etc. But who knows. Anyways . . .
It was good to hear something. It's hard to hear nothing for weeks on end. Even just a "yes, your case is still with the reviewer" is better than "we don't know where your case is - but I guess it's still with the reviewer". We also found out that we were KO'd on April 16th - 6 days after we entered PGN. So, for a month and a half we thought we were still in PGN, but we were not. We got our PA the beginning of May - so I'm not sure why it took 3-4 weeks to resubmit us - unless there was some tie-up with that "medical form" they needed to resubmit. Not even sure what that was about. I don't care. I'm just glad to know we are still being looked at. :)

Sorry that was so long - I just wanted to update you all and say . . . Yes . . I did it . . .I couldn't wait. . . .

Lori :)

11 weeks . . . where's my "waterfall"??!!

2007-06-26T10:13:00.000-04:00

I didn't think I would ever had to say that we were in PGN for 11 weeks! It's been 3 1/2 weeks since our resubmit. No word. Nada. I may break down and call PGN myself to see what's going on with our case. :) I know it won't speed things up any - but at least I can get an idea of where we are at. I don't even know when we got KO'd. I would love to have that info. We'll see. I'm trying to remain patient - but as I've said before . . . I MISS MY LITTLE GIRL!!! I thought the vision of the "waterfall" would mean that we would have a speedy process . . . . but it must mean something else that we don't know about yet. Hmmm . . . . any ideas?? Anyone have any insight?? Oh well. Time will tell. In the meantime . . . . . . what have I been doing to keep busy - you ask??. . . . This:
I had a coupon for a free 8x8 book (only 20 pgs though . . . I went a little over that) from ordering something from Shutterfly - so I thought I would take advantage of it. I was just going to send down some of the photos we took from our trip - but this is much better. :) Now I just need to figure out how to get it down to her. Not sure if I trust the mail system. I'm trying to find someone who is going down there soon to take it to her. (Just found out our agency director was down there last week. :( Oh well. She may have not even gone to Casa Bernabe on this trip). If I can't find anyone - then we'll just have to bring it when we pick her up. :) If you click on the book it should take you to the website to see the whole thing.

Keep praying folks! Pray for my patience (the days are getting longer and longer!!!). Pray for our paperwork to be approved quickly. Pray for Wendy's protection (she still hasn't gotten the Chicken Pox - despite 2 rounds of it going around the Baby House). Pray for the remaining finances we still need (and for wisdom for us to know how to come up with those finances). Just pray! Thanks so much! You don't know how much it means to me to know that you all are praying!!!

Oh - it was cute - Wendy's caretaker said that everyday when Wendy looks at the kids with Chicken pox, she says "I don't itch. I don't hurt". :) I think she feels bad for the kids, and is a bit surprised she doesn't have the same thing. :) Bless her heart! Her caretaker also said that they have been trying to teach her to say that Jesus is in her heart (corizon) - but she keeps saying that he is in her "calzon" . . . her "underwear"! :) Don't you just love it when kids are learning how to say things?! :)

It looks like we will probably have to get our fingerprints redone anyways. Even if we got out of PGN TODAY - we would have to travel in less than 5 weeks - which would be pushing it. Normally it takes 4-6 weeks to go get your child once you are out of PGN. There are a few other little things that have to be done after approval (ie - new Birth Certificate, visa appt, etc). We have to have current fingerprints in order to pick up our little girl . . . . so . . . . it's off to pay the gov't $140 for fingerprints . . . that they already have on file!!??? Don't you just love our gov't? :) Wouldn't it make more sense to just do a file check on our fingerprints to make sure we haven't committed any crimes in the last 15 months? My fingerprints haven't changed any. I know it's got to be some "brilliant" idea some over-paid gov't official came up with to help "raise money" for his salary. :) Whatcha think?? :) . . . . OK . . . . I'll stop criticizing. I'm sure there is some "good" reason for having to redo fingerprints in 15 months. . . . . . . . But why does this 171h expire at 18 months? That doesn't make sense. Unless it is to give a 3 month processing time for our "new" fingerprints before they have to send you a new 171h. ???? Again . . . . . . . oh well.

Blessings to you and your family today! I pray you are enjoying your summer!

Lori :)

Guatemala Earthquake

2007-06-14T17:14:00.000-04:00

I am posting 2 articles regarding the Earthquake that happened yesterday just off the coast of Guatemala. Upon hearing about it (at 4:20 EST - 2:20 Guatemalan time) - I called down to Wendy's house and spoke with her house mom. I felt silly saying "Hi, this is Wendy's mom. I was just calling to make sure you all were ok." :) They were all ok. The house mom didn't feel anything when she was outside, but the ladies in the house did feel some shaking. God is good! I am so thankful for the ability to call and check on my little girl! I would have been so worried otherwise.
I am blessed.

Lori :)

Last updated June 13, 2007 2:16 p.m. PT
Strong earthquake rocks Guatemala
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

GUATEMALA CITY -- A powerful earthquake shook Guatemala and parts of neighboring nations Wednesday, sending some residents in El Salvador's capital rushing into the streets for safety. Officials said there were no immediate reports of casualties or serious damage.
The quake struck at 1:29 p.m. local time and was centered 70 miles southwest of Guatemala City off the Pacific coast, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. It gave a preliminary calculation of magnitude of 6.8.
Benedicto Giron, spokesman for the National Disaster Reduction Center, said there had been some landslides in the southwest province of Escuintla but they apparently didn't cause any serious problems.
He noted that telephone service was down in some areas and information was tricking in slowly from the various provinces.
The Geological Survey said the temblor was strong enough and close enough to population areas to have caused damage.
The quake was felt strongly in neighboring El Salvador, where some people ran into the streets in the capital of San Salvador, but the Red Cross there said it had no reports of damage or injury. It was also felt in the Mexican city of Tapachula, near the Guatemalan border.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center based in Hawaii said no tsunami was expected from the quake.
The region is prone to earthquakes. Almost 23,000 people died in a 1976 earthquake.
(This version CORRECTS Corrects time to 1:29 p.m., ADDS comment by disaster relief official, no risk of tsunami, felt in Mexico.)

Last updated June 14, 2007 8:39 a.m. PT
Guatemala quake causes little damage
By RODRIGO ESTRADAASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

GUATEMALA CITY -- A powerful earthquake that shook Guatemala and parts of El Salvador caused widespread panic but left both countries virtually unscathed, officials said Thursday.
Landslides were reported outside the Guatemalan capital in the southwest province of Escuintla from Wednesday's quake, but they apparently caused no casualties, said Benedicto Giron, spokesman for the National Disaster Reduction Center.
"Besides some landslides, the only other damage confirmed has been a wall that collapsed at a home under construction," said another spokeswoman, Ana Luis Olmedo.
Eddy Sanchez, director of Guatemala's seismology institute, said several aftershocks have been felt since the 6.8-magnitude afternoon quake struck southwest of Guatemala City. It was centered 70 miles from the capital off the Pacific coast, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
In Guatemala City, people fled into the streets, causing massive traffic jams.
Gabriel Arana said she was cooking when the earthquake caused the corrugated metal roof on her shack to flap up and down. "We're used to earthquakes but this was really scary," she said.
The quake was also felt in neighboring El Salvador, where people ran into the streets in the capital of San Salvador, but the Red Cross said it had no reports of damage or injuries.
The Pacific coast of Central America is prone to earthquakes. Almost 23,000 people died in a 1976 earthquake in Guatemala.

Hola Mami

2007-06-12T20:06:00.000-04:00

That sweet, slighly raspy, 3 year old voice of our little girl just brings a smile to my face and a warmth in my heart! "Hola Mami." she says so quitely and sweetly. "I love you. I miss you." she says - repeating what she is told to say by her caretaker. I don't care if she has to be told to say it - I just love hearing it!!

Talking to a 3 year old on the phone is always an interesting adventure. I can't see her shake her head "yes" and "no" to things I say - but I can imagine. . . .at least I hope she is understanding my mix of English and Spanish. :) Her caretaker says she seems to understand what we are saying . . . . she just doesn't communicate much in English on her own. She will - one day. At least she can understand us some. That will help when she comes home. And when will that be???? . . . . . time will tell. Keep praying that it is this summer! That's my desire. But God knows - and it's all in HIS hands.

We were told that they posted the pictures we sent (printed on a sheet of paper) up by Wendy's bed. She loves to look at it every naptime, night and morning. She gets excited seeing the pictures of herself with her "Mami y Papi" and the pictures of her "hermanos y hermana" (brothers and sister). I love it that she sees us every day - before she goes to sleep and when she wakes up. I see her too - every day - on my computer, in my bedroom, in the living room, in the kitchen . . . . . . OK - I know I take too many pictures! :) It keeps me going each day.

The last few days have been hard. I am feeling like a pregnant woman in her 9th month - or at least the end of the 8th month - anxiously waiting for "the day" - the day we go into labor . . . . the day we get the call telling us we are out of PGN! I want to hold my little girl. I want to sing with her. I want to pray with her, read her stories, take her to the pool, tickle and wrestle with her, and be her "Mami" EVERY day! I just want her home! . . . . . one day . . . . I just don't know when.

Well - pray for the kiddos in Wendy's house. Quite a few of them have come down with Chickenpox. Wendy hasn't - but with 21 babies/kids in the house - I bet she'll get it soon enough. :) Pray for all their health. Thanks!

Blessings!

Lori :)

D-Day!

2007-06-07T09:58:00.002-04:00

I meant to post yesterday - but time slipped away from me.

Yesterday was D-Day. Did we hear anything? . . . . acutally . . . . we did (after I emailed our agency)! :) No - we are not out of PGN (the attorney general's court) for good - but I did find out that we DID get a KO (kick out) from PGN at some point. My case worker didn't know when. The lawyer said we got a KO for the missing PA (pre-approval) and for needing an updated medical report (on Wendy, I assume). Our case was supposed to be resbumitted on May 31st - last Thursday! So - as of today, we have been back in PGN for 1 week! The next call we will receive will either be - "You are out of PGN (and the adoption is approved)" - or - "You have been KO'd again and you have to fix . . . .". Please pray that we get the 1st phone call . . . .and soon! :) Sometimes it can take just as long for the case worker to review your file and pass it on to the head of PGN for approval, as it did before the 1st KO. I've been told our case goes to the bottom of the pile (for our specific reviewer) after a KO and resubmit. I'm really not totally sure HOW it all works down there. I've seen some people get through PGN in less than a week, and others - it takes over a year! There's just no way to tell. Too many variables that can affect the length of time your case takes. I'd love to be a fly on the wall down there. :)

So . . . Happy News yesterday!!! I was praying that I would hear we had already been KO'd and resubmitted!! And that's what I got. NOW my prayer is that we will get our approval before June is over! Our fingerprints (and 171H form from the USCIS) expire on August 11th - and I think we would have to redo them. The USCIS is increasing their fees by about 84% (on some things) around the end of July. I really don't want to have to dish out more money to prove that we are still good, upstanding citizens without any criminal record and are able to adopt a child. PLUS - I just want her home!!! I want to enjoy some of the summer with her here. We'll see. But just as D-Day (the battle of Normandy) was the beginning of the end of World War 2 - this is the beginning of the end of this "war" . . . the spiritual battle to bring our daughter home!! :) Please join us in "battling" for her freedom!

Prayer requests:
1. Process - For a speedy approval from PGN - and then a speedy process to get her new BC (birth certificate), passport and visa appointment (our "PINK slip").
2. Provision - For the remaining finances we need to pay once we are out of PGN (about $6,000) and for the travel expenses for myself, Jeremy, Meghan and then Wendy on the return trip ($2500-3500). I believe we have about $1000 towards those - possibly more (I need to do my budget and see).
3. Protection (spiritual, physical, emotional, etc) - for Wendy and our family here - as we get closer and closer to bringing Wendy home.
4. Preparation - of Wendy's heart and mind as well as our family here too - for the transition and changes that are coming. Pray that Wendy will adjust easily, and that we will have wisdom to know how to pray and how to help her with the grief she will experience in leaving her "home" and "family".
5. Praise - for all that God has done this last year and a half in our adoption journey, in our family, in our walk with the Lord, in our personal lives, etc. Praise Him for all He has done and is currently doing in your own life!! GOD IS GOOD! . . . . . ALL THE TIME!

I figured I'd do some alliteration. :) Did you like it? It may help you to remember what we need prayer for. :) Anyways . . .

Thanks for all your support and encouragement! You are truly a blessing to us! Thanks for walking with us on this long road and exciting adventure. We are nearing the end . . . but it will really just be the beginning!!! :) PTL!

Blessings today and always!
Lori :)

8 weeks . . . and Nada!

2007-06-05T16:01:00.000-04:00

"Nada" means "nothing" in Spanish. We have not heard one single, solitary thing - good or bad - from our agency, lawyers, etc. :( We are still hopeful though.

Tomorrow is D-Day. For those that have been following our journey since the beginning - you all know that this day could "possibly" mean something. (see The Dream post) Only time will tell. I'm not holding my breath though. I think that the D-Day reference was more about "how" we get our daughter - not necessarily "when". Adoption is a spiritual battle (see the Spiritual Warfare post) as the enemy (Satan) does not want the people from "his camp/army" to be adopted into the Lord's family/army. However - we WILL bring Wendy home, and she already puts her hand over her heart when you ask her "Donde esta Jesus?" - Where is Jesus? :) I'm soooo glad she's at a Christian orphanage!

Well, I can't write long as we are heading out the door to swim at the pool. I'll let you know if anything significant happens tomorrow. Please pray!! We have paperwork expiring soon and would really rather not have to do it all over again. :( Plus - we just want Wendy home!!!!
Thanks so much!

Blessings to all of you today!

Lori :)

7 weeks . . .

2007-05-29T23:15:00.000-04:00

Hmm . . . . Isn't 7 supposed to be God's number? :) So - c'mon God . . . . let's hear some good news this week!!

As you can guess - we still haven't heard anything yet. We have been in PGN for 7 weeks today (so we assume) and we are still praying for a Kick Out (KO) so we can submit our Pre Approval (PA) with our other paperwork. I am secretly praying that we will get a call from our agency saying . . . "Oh yeah - the lawyer said you were KO'd right when you got your PA, and you were resubmitted the next day . . . . and . . . . by the way . . . . you've been approved - in such a short time too! It's a miracle!" :) OR - how about "The lawyer was acutally able to sumit your PA without you having to be KO'd . . . and . . . guess what . . . . you are out of PGN and approved!" :) HEY - a girl can dream - can't she? . . . . . Thanks.

Don't worry - I'm not living in those dreams. I just live day to day - and actually the past 7 weeks have gone by pretty fast. We're still keeping busy here - that's for sure! School is almost out! I'll be glad to not have any more homework . . . oops - I mean the KIDS won't have any more homework! :)

Great news on the homefront . . . . our second son (9 1/2 years old) asked Jesus to be "Lord of his life" today!!! He asked Jesus "into his heart" when he was three - but he didn't really remember and definitely wasn't producing a whole lot of "fruit" lately. I've been praying for an "open door" to bring up some issues with him and that his heart would be open. Today God answered my prayers and his heart was MORE than ready! He was so excited about it afterwards - that at bedtime prayers he actually prayed a NEW prayer (other than the one he's prayed exactly the same for the last 7 years) - but accidentally said "Thank you Jesus for letting me ask you to become my follower". :) hee, hee. He even laughed at himself for the mistake! Before he would have been mortified for praying "wrong"!! :) He had a light in his eyes tonight that I haven't seen in a long time!!! :) PTL! Oh - and after his prayer for salvation this afternoon - I told him to clean his room (way to celebrate mom!) - but he not only cleaned up HIS stuff, but his brother's, the living room, the dining room, the playroom, and a few things in the kitchen!! :) (he shows his love through acts of service - wouldn't you say?) Jeremy told him that he could get "saved" every day if it meant he would clean this well! :) hee,hee.

We also had some other spiritual convesations, prayers (and hopefully breakthroughs) with my daughter! They are growing up before my eyes! I have been praying that God would just capture their hearts - and I think He is doing it! I've been "battling" enough lately that it's about time to see some breakthroughs on some things!!! :)

Well - keep battling in prayer with me for Wendy to come home this summer!!!! Pray that her paperwork is miraculously approved in PGN - faster than anyone expected!!! We all want her home!!

Jeremy and I (and my mom) did get to talk with Wendy yesterday - on Jeremy's b-day. It was so good to hear her voice - though it always makes me miss her even more. It was good to talk with her house father some and one of her caretakers (who is from Virginia!). The caretaker is teaching her some English for us and helping her to pray for her whole family by name. They also said that Wendy got my letter today. I had sent her some pictures all printed out on a couple sheets - showing her new room, us with her on our visit trip, and a few of her siblings. They said she was very excited to see them! :) That makes me happy.

Well - it's late and I need my sleep! A new day awaits and will be here before I want it to. :)

Thanks for your prayers! Continue to keep us in your prayers. I am expecting more battles - as anytime the Lord does great things - the enemy gets mad!! :) But we are not afraid here! WE are the VICTORS! Hey - my name, Lori, does mean "Victorious one"!! :) hee,hee.

Blessings
Lori :)

We have Pre Approval!!!

2007-05-17T12:51:00.000-04:00

Yes folks - the US Embassy has Pre Approved our adoption case. I've been yearing for approval my whole life . . . .and now I finally have "pre-approval". :) I'm getting close to that approval in my life! hee,hee.
We got our email this morning and it was so exciting to see Wendy's name on the Pre-Approval (PA). We are on our way to officially becoming her parents! Now we just need to get that PA into PGN (the attorney general's court) along with the rest of our case. I think we have to be kicked-out of PGN first to submit it - but I'm not 100% sure. I'll find out soon enough, I guess.
Jeremy was just saying yesterday that he hoped we heard "good news" (ie - our case being done and approved) on (or by) June 6th - which is D-Day. I told him that the only way we could possibly have our adoption totally approved by then would be if we got our PA today or tomorrow, got KO'd and resubmitted it right away - and then the PGN reviewer approved the case fairly quickly after that. God could do it - that's for sure . . . and sure enough - we DID get our PA the next day!! So - you never know?! :)

Thanks for your prayers. Keep praying!! At the end of PGN we will need to stroke another large check for fees - of which we do not have them all yet - so pray for God to continue to provide - just as we need it - as he has been doing all along!! I have peace!
Thank you ALL who have contributed money, items for garage sales, prayers, support, encouragement, and more!!!! You are TRULY a BLESSING to us!!! Thanks for running this race and going on this adventure with us. I know it's been long - but it is sooooo worth it!
OH - at MOPS yesterday - our leader asked how many ladies were pregnant. We had quite a few. I forgot to raise my hand at first - but then remembered. They were all impressed (and probably jealous) at how good I look for being 15 months pregnant . . . and the fact that my child will come home to me totally potty trained, feeding herself, sleeping through the night and bi-ligual! :) I know, I know. . . . . . I have brilliant children!! :) hee,hee.

Well - we'll keep you updated on PGN and the rest of this journey. Stay tuned . . . . .

Blessings
Lori :)

5 weeks

2007-05-15T21:05:00.000-04:00

Yep - it's been 5 weeks - today - that we have been in PGN (it's actually gone by really fast as I've been so busy!) No KO's (kick out's) yet. No word. You usually don't hear anything about how your case is doing till they either kick it out (so you can fix something or supply a missing document) or they approve it. I know we cannot be approved yet, but I am curious to find out if we need to fix anything at all (besides providing the PA).

We STILL have not heard ANYTHING from the attorney handling our case as to whether he/she has submitted us for Pre Approval with the US Embassy or not either. I hope he/she has. We haven't received an email from the US Embassy stating we have PA - so I at least know that. . . . . . .but I'd rather hear that we DID have it. . . . . . One day we will.

Not much other adoption news to tell ya. We did call Wendy last monday (a week ago) and that was wonderful. :) It was good to hear her voice! She was saying "Hello Mommy. How are you?" and practicing saying the things she's learned in English like "eyes, nose, ears" etc. :) She didn't say too much, but I know she was listening and I hope our call made her happy. :) We miss her alot!! Especially after having a yard sale on May 5th to raise some more money.

We were just going to sell a few things at my mom's house when her community had their bi-annual yard sale. But after redoing Meg's room and getting in the purging mode - I had more stuff than I thought I would. I figured - if I was going to go through the trouble of getting it to my mom's and sell it - then I would make this sale more of a fundraiser (I decided this the monday before the sale). I emailed a few friends and family to see if anyone else had any donations towards the sale - and about 5 people did (THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH - those of you who did donate stuff). We didn't have near the amount of stuff that we had at our last sale (I wish I had taken a picture of that last sale and all the stuff we had!!) - but we had a nice steady stream of shoppers and we got rid of alot of it. Some shoppers were wonderful to talk to - about our adoption, about Wendy, etc. We even had a Italian lady who had grown up in an orphanage, and a Guatemalan lady who recognized the Marimba music I was playing on my radio. Even a couple who were looking into adopting from Korea (or somewhere else) as the wife had been adopted from Korea!
But then there were those typical, hard-core, bargainers that just kind of ticked me off. I tried not to let them get to me - but I have a hard time with people who ask me what I want for something - and then when I tell them they give me this HORRIFIED look of disgust and then say "NO!" and quote a price less than half of what I originally said. And then they never budge from that price. . . . .usually. Even when I was passing out in front of a lady - she still would not give me the price I was asking - but put the measley amount she had quoted, in my hand as my body went down on the ground. When I was able to get up and walk (with J's help) back to the house - I told her my passing out was from all her hard bargaining! :) She laughed - but deep down I was a bit miffed still. I learned, shortly thereafter, that with those people I do NOT quote what I really want for the item - but I double the price for them. :) Then I MAY get close to what I want . . . but I still get the disgusting looks (like I've offended them) no matter what I quote - even at 50 cents! :) Oh well. I think it's a cultural thing for them. :) I am super-glad to bargain with those shoppers that bargain much nicer - saying things like "WOULD you take $1 for this instead?" :) OF COURSE! :) Anyways . . . .

So, for those of you that are wondering . . . . I did get over my dizziness and fainting by the next day. I think it was a combo of many things going on that day. Not a good day to be falling apart though. :) Just keep me in your prayers. I've had more of the same feelings today and I'm not sure if it's just an "attack" (from the enemy) or something I really should go get checked out. I've been doing ALOT of praying and "battling" lately - over some things I want to change around here . . . so I wouldn't be surprised if it is an attack. Thanks for your prayers!! I am soooooo thankful to have such prayer warriors on my side! And if you are not a prayer warrior . . . . you CAN be! You can start now! :) . . . . Don't know how? . . . .Just ask me! :) I'd be glad to help!

As for our family . . . .Meg is now 7 . . . Charlie died (Ryan's hamster) . . . .John has joined our family (a new hamster) . . . Chompy is still, amazingly, alive and actually getting bigger (Ryan's turtle) . . . Cookie is still a nervous nelly (our cat . . . anyone want her?) . . . and the kids are getting spring fever at school (and so is mom!)!
We went to Busch Gardens for Mother's Day(with some friends) and the park opened up their new ride - The Griffon - 12 days early, just for Mother's day! :) I was probably one of the first 1000 people (besides the workers) to ride on it (we may have been the "test" subjects!)! For those that don't know what it is - it is a rollercoaster that is 205 feet high and you go down at a 90 degree angle. . . twice! Completely vertical! That's after hanging over the edge of that 90 degree turn for a few seconds . . . just to get your heart pumping even more. :) I LOVED it! I had my arms high in the air the WHOLE time!!! Screaming with excitement! :) If I hadn't had my kids with me I think I would have stayed at that ride all day long. :) hee,hee. BUUUTT . . . . . we HAD to go to Dragon Land and other kid rides too . . . . it was only fair. :( Hey - wait a minute. I thought it was MOTHER's Day!? I should have been able to do what I wanted to do all day - right? :) Ha, ha. I don't think that really happens for a mother. . . .at least - not too often. I did enjoy seeing my kids have fun! It made me happy! And that's what it was all about!

Well folks - sorry so long. I'll keep you updated as I know things.
Keep us all in your prayers - here in the US and Wendy Kate in Guatemala.
Keep praying that our paperwork gets moving a little quicker!! We would LOVE to have our daughter home by the summer!! That would be the easiest as far as childcare goes too (for our pick-up trip).
Let us know if we can be praying about anything for you! I'm serious now! Let us know! Send us an email or call. I'd be glad to pray!

Blessings to you all!
Lori :)

Bunk Beds

2007-04-26T21:10:00.000-04:00

We are definitely ready for Wendy Kate to come home now . . . . we finally have bunk beds for the girls!! Meg is thrilled (but "a little scared about falling off the top bunk")! Since we were pulling out all the furniture (we got a bigger dresser too), and because Meghan had been begging me to change the color of her walls (she HATED the beautiful shade of pastel pink I had so lovingly chosen before her birth) - we decided to repaint everything. . . . .and boy is it different! It's like a pink explosion!! Definitely not my taste in colors, but Meghan LOVES it! I figured that I got to have my favorite pink on the wall for 7 years - so I'll give in and let her pick (somewhat). :) Now comes the fun part of putting everything back in the room and organizing it so there is equal space for Meg's and Wendy's things, and then decorating the walls (pictures, etc).

Meg got to decide what colors went where on the furniture (the panels come out and can flip over to a different color - pink, purple, green or white). Her drawers are the pink and white ones, and Wendy has the purple and green. :) She insisted on green at the top of the mirror too. I asked her several times if she was SURE she wanted green up there . . . "not pink or purple?". Yep - she wanted green. I then spent forever unscrewing (and re-screwing) about a dozen screws on the back of that piece and got the green "just right" (the holes were not wanting to match up). Meg came in an hour later and said "GREEN?! I didn't want GREEN up there!" . . . . oh yes you did Chica! :) I reminded her of her adamant stance on the green panel earlier. Her response - "Oh yeah. That's right. OK green is fine." . . . . . . she is definitely ALL girl! Fickle as they come!! :)

Here are a few pics of the furniture and paint choices. :)

All that to say . . . I'm keeping myself plenty busy as we wait for word on our adoption. Last we heard the lawyer was trying to get a new birth certificate to submit us to the Embassy for Pre Approval (PA). That was over a week ago. As of tuesday we have been in PGN (the Atty General's Court) for 2 weeks. No news on that front either - though I really wouldn't expect to hear anything till around 6 weeks. That seems to be the earliest people are getting out or getting Kicked Out (KO'd or also called getting a Previo). So - probably mid- May sometime. I've got enough to keep me busy till then too. Meg's b-day is the 5th - and once I get her room together, I need to plan a party. :) We have other family b-days in May too. Then the end of the school year comes - with all the SOL's, final projects, parties, gifts for teachers, etc. :) June is actually in my mind already. So . . . . when will Wendy Kathryn come home???? . . . . . . In God's timing! Until then - I'll keep trusting God's plan and try to get a few things done around here!

Blessings to you all!

Lori :)

Happy Birthday Wendy!

2007-04-20T16:49:00.000-04:00

Feliz Cumpleaños a tu. Feliz Cumpleaños a tu. Feliz Cumpleaños a Wendy . . . . . . . . . ¡Feliz Cumpleaños a tu!

Happy Birthday my darling! I wish we could be there to celebrate with you TODAY. But I'm glad we got to celebrate with you last week. Hope you enjoyed your birthday party! We are looking forward to many more to come! We love you a ton!

Te Amamos,
Mami y Papi

Videos from Visit Trip

2007-04-19T20:08:00.000-04:00

Here are a couple short video segments that I took with my digital camera. I'm not sure why they look so bad - but I'm sure it has something to do with YouTube and not my camera. :) They looked fine on there. (I didn't really know if I would be able to upload them all by myself - but I did it!) I'll have to get J to upload a few short segments of our 1&1/2 hour video of our trip when he gets the chance. I have a few other shots - but I accidentally recorded them sideways. Oops. I was taking a picture of her vertically - and then decided to record it . . . but you can't rotate the video! Duh! Oh well.

Enjoy!
Lori :)

WENDY SWINGING 4/7/07

SHE SPEAKS! 4/10/07

BELLS RING IN ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA 4/12/07

Pictures of our visit trip!

2007-04-17T22:15:00.000-04:00

Here are "some" pics of our visit trip to see Wendy April 6th through the 13th. :) I say some . . . but you'll find there's alot! I took around 700 pictures though - so be thankful I didn't show them all to you!! :) Some pics were of the other kids at the orphanage and, of course, a lot of other shots of Wendy! :)

Enjoy!
Lori :)

Trip to Guatemala

This was Easter day! She LOVED the dress, shoes and sweater we brought her (just like her sister's)!

Our Visit and PGN

2007-04-16T14:12:00.000-04:00

Well - we are home from our week-long visit with Wendy! I am so thankful for the ammenities here in the US! :) Despite some frustrations with certain aspects of our visit - we are so thankful that we got to spend a week getting to know our beautiful daughter! She will fit into our family just perfectly! She has a similar sense of humor as my other kids (esp the youngest 2), is girly yet can be a tomboy, sweet, very smart, happy, easy-going and obedient. We couldn't have picked a better child for our family. God really knew what He was doing!

As for what we did all week. . . .there is too much to tell . . . . we had a b-day party for her (she'll be 3 this week), played with bubbles, sidewalk chalk, colored with crayons, painted finger and toenails, went for walks, looked at the pigs, played on the playgrounds, read "libros", danced, kicked a ball around, made candy necklaces and bracelets, went for wagon rides and more!
We were called "Mami y Papi" all week . . . by ALL the kids. :) We finally had to start telling the other kids to call us Lori and Heremias (spanish for Jeremy) as I didn't want Wendy to be confused and think we were just visiting workers or were not really just HER parents. Hopefully she got it. :) She was a bit sad when we were not there one day (we got away for a few hours to visit Antigua and go out to eat), and seemed a bit sad that we were leaving. But we promised her we would return soon to bring her home. I hope she's doing ok and knows we will be back. We love her so much! Jeremy was the one who cried when leaving . . . which, of course, made me tear up as well. It happened on the plane when we saw other couples bringing their kids home with them. :( One day . . . hopefully soon, it will be our turn.
The caretakers said they will start talking more in English with Wendy (and another boy about to be adopted) so that she will be able to say more in English when we get her. She understands alot of English, but she doesn't really speak it - unless she is just repeating what you said.

I will hopefully upload some of the 700 pictures I took for you to check out. Maybe even a video snippet or two. Be patient with me though as I have been trying to get settled here again - and J had to leave on business this week - so it may be a little while before I get things uploaded. Sorry. Don't worry - I won't post all 700 . . . maybe only 650. :) hee,hee.

While we were down there, our agency called and left a message for us to call them when we got back. I was worried that it might not be good news as they didn't send an email about it. I finally got ahold of them today and it is, thankfully, good news . . . .

WE ARE IN PGN!!

The possible bad news is that we were submitted before we got our PA (preapproval) from the US embassy. By doing it this way the PGN reviewer can start looking over our papers while we wait for PA. However, it means that we will most likely get KO'd (kicked out) at some point for not having our PA with our paperwork. But hopefully, by that point, we will have our PA and we can resubmit right away (barring any other problems we need to fix). We've been told that they need a new BC (birth cert) for Wendy to submit us for PA as hers had expired on the 13th (though, I thought it was just certified in Jan?? Who knows). So - once they get that - then we can be submitted for PA (which has been taking 4-6 weeks lately). Once we resubmit it (and anything else that needs to be fixed) to PGN - it could possibly take another 6 weeks - or more - or less. Who knows. It all depends on the reviewer.

So here's our prayer requests:

1. For Wendy to be ok with our absence and to know that we are returning for her soon.

2. For a very speedy and efficient PGN reviewer!

3. For our paperwork to be submitted for PA very soon (need that BC!) and for a fast PreApproval!

4. For continued provision with the remaining money needed for the adoption.

Thank you all for your prayers for us. God had mercy on us on Sunday as we (me and the 4 kids) were taking Jeremy to the airport! Amazingly, the cars in front and behind us were spaced about 3-4 car lengths from us when a truck to our right (and about a car lenth or two ahead of us) started fishtailing (it was pouring down rain) and then started spinning headfirst towards us. We slammed on our brakes as he did two 360 degree spins across the 3 or 4 lanes on the highway in front of us and amazingly enough ended up facing forward and still moving forward without crashing into the median!! Wow! God had mercy on his life that day as well!! It was like a crazy car scene from a movie! Within minutes there were cars all around us again. I am amazed that there was all that space around us and the truck at just the right time! That was definitely God!!! I have been soooooo thankful to not only be alive today, but not even injured! Praise God for another day to live!! Our lives can end when you least expect it - and God awakened me (and hopefully that other man) to the fact that each day I have here is a total gift!! :) Of course - the kids had to say "I hope mom can take care of us while dad is gone" as we left the airport (I had been the one driving) . . . as if that possible crash was all my fault! Ha! Little do they know how I protected and saved them from possible injury by my excellent driving skills in an emergency!! :) It wasn't a "woman driver" who almost caused that accident!! :) hee,hee.

Blessings on you and your family today! Be grateful and enjoy this gift of life you have been given today! I hope and pray that each of you know (and are excited about) where you would end up if this was your last day. If not - let me know . . . . . we need to talk! I know where I'm headed . . . . . but hopefully not for a looooooonnngggg time! :)

Lori :)

4 Weeks . . . and 3 days!

2007-04-03T19:43:00.001-04:00

Yes folks - it has been 4 weeks since we (supposedly . . . I mean. . . . hopefully) entered Family Court. I was hoping that we would be out by now as I know they didn't have to interview the birthmom or do DNA. But - I guess not. This week is Holy Week (Palm Sunday through Easter), so many things slow down or shut down for all the festivities. So - I'm not sure if we will hear much this week or not. We'll see. One can hope.

3 Days!!! Yes - that's right . . . only 3 days till I am snuggling with my little girl - Wendy (Kathryn) Elizabeth!!! (still not sure if Kathryn will be her first or middle name . . . as of late - it's looking like it may be a middle name. stay tuned though . . . )

Jeremy and I are very excited to see our beautiful daughter in person - to get to know her and for her to get to know us. Pray that it all goes well - our flights, our visit, etc. I know it will be odd for her - and I don't want her to think we are leaving her (for good) when we have to leave next week to come home. Pray that, even at her young age, she will understand somewhat.

Also - please pray for Wendy Kate's housemom. She is having surgery on April 10th - on her back. Pray for her safety and quick recovery, and especially for her husband - who, obviously, doesn't want anything to happen to his wonderful wife! They are in charge of 18 kids in the "baby house" (along with a couple missionaries) - so it will be a challenge to not have the housemom being able to do anything for a month and then only light duty for a few months after that. I know they covet your prayers. Thanks so much!!!

Blessings to you all and your families today! We are so grateful for you and your prayers! Keep praying for a "speedy" process for the rest of this adoption! Thank you!

Lori :)

DONATIONS

2007-03-20T20:20:00.000-04:00

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

2007-03-20T20:01:00.000-04:00

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!!

2007-03-06T15:49:00.000-05:00

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 :)

Pregnant 1 year?! Is it possible?

2007-02-21T21:15:00.000-05:00

Yes folks . . . .
We have been "pregnant" for 1 whole year today! :) It was a year ago today that God showed us (through Jeremy's dream) that we have a daughter in Guatemala! If you haven't heard the story - just find (or click here) The Dream post from April of 2006. It's an amazing story!
I never thought, in my wildest dreams, that we would be spending this 1 year anniversary WITHOUT our little girl home. Last year someone mentioned that maybe we would have her home in June 2007 (in reference to a mention of D-Day in J's dream - which is June 6th) - and my response was "I HOPE NOT! I want her home THIS June (of 06)!" . . . . . As you can guess - I would GLADLY bring her home THIS June 07!! :) We'll see. That would still qualify under the "miracle" heading right now though. But God COULD do it if He wanted.

As for the latest developments. Thank you for all who have been praying about all the possible changes/announcements (of the Protocol of Good Practice), etc and how that might affect our adoption process. Keep praying. As of now, things have died down in Guatemala in regards to all that - but it can always rear it's ugly head again at any time. Let's pray it doesn't. Let's pray that the gov't and those in authority/the decision makers, will figure out a way to become complaint with the Hague treaty without jeapordizing the welfare of thousands of orphans and children! That should be their main concern - but unfortunately, it isn't always the case.

Keep praying for our process too - that nothing will hinder it from going forward quickly and smoothly. We are still waiting for the English translation of Wendy's COA and for our POA (Power of Atty) to be fully authenticated and sent down to Guatemala. Hopefully we will have all that done by next week sometime. We'll see. . . . .THEN . . . . it's FINALLY time to start the adoption process in GT!!! Man! For alot of people - that part of the process is the longest and most emotionally nerve-wracking time . . . . but it already feels like I've gone through so much so far . . . . and we haven't even STARTED the GT side of things! Maybe that will benefit me and make it seem like the GT "waiting" isn't as bad! :) I've been waiting for 3+ months with "nothing" happening till lately - so I think we'll make it through the rest. Oh yeah - and it looks like (according to her COA) there is a good chance that the rest of the process won't take the 2+ years, but somewhere in the neighborhood of 5-8 months (avg - 6-7 mo's). Yeah!!!!

I would also ask for prayer for us to be able to go visit Wendy in April. We are asking God to make it all work out - financially, childcare related, etc. Right now I am a bit overwhelmed just thinking about all the hoops to jump through just to get down there. If we had a ton of money (and all my kids had their passports) I would just buy tickets for them all and hop on the plane tomorrow! :) But at $600-700+ a ticket . . . . I don't think so. :) Anyways - just pray that we can go visit her soon. My heart is aching to see her, hold her, snuggle with her, let her get to know us and to know that we love her sooooo much. Thanks guys!

Well - that's about it for now! Thanks for checking in and for praying for us. We always need it! Don't be afraid to tell us what you need prayer for! I LOVE praying for people! I LOVE seeing God at work through prayer! K?!

Blessings!
Lori :)

Katie's COA . . . I mean . . . COF is here!!

2007-02-09T16:33:00.000-05:00

Your prayers have worked!! Yes - can you believe it?! Our agency has finally been able to get ahold of her COA (Certificate of Abandonment) - which we affectionately call - her COF - Certificate of FREEDOM!! :) We got the wonderful news yesterday and we are now able to sign and send our POA (Power of Attorney) down to Guatemala and actually START the adoption process!! Woo-hoo!! What an answer to prayer!

Our director was trying to get in touch with the orphanage director or social worker down in Guatemala, for quite awhile. It wasn't until last week that we finally started to get some "movement" on this journey (probably due to your prayers!). I had a hard time when Feb. 3rd came and went. That marked 3 months since our referral of our daughter - with N-O-T-H-I-N-G happening. I felt like our boat (going down the river) was just stuck - stalled - not going anywhere. I didn't know if we were still moving forward or not.
On Tuesday, Jan 30th, I was praying over this situation, and I felt God led me to Joshua 1:11 -
". . . 'Get your supplies ready. Three days from now you will cross the Jordan here to go in and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you for your own.' "
I didn't know if this was going to be a literal 3 days or just an encouragement that we would get to accept the referral of our little girl very soon. But I did feel that it was an encouragement from the Lord to get ready.
The next day (Wed) I got an email from our director saying that she had gotten in touch with the social worker in GT and that things were "moving" - that the SW was going to look into where Wendy's COA and paperwork was. Woo-hoo! :) Yeah! We thought we would hear something back that day or even on Thursday. So . . . when I didn't hear anything by Friday, I was quite sad. Saturday I spent some time praying about it all again and reading more from Joshua. This time vs 13 stood out - " . . . 'The Lord your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land.' " There were some other things in the next two chapters that had me worried (would I have to help others find their "rest" and "land" before being able to "go back and occupy" my own land . . . ."toward the sunrise") - and so I talked with a friend on Sunday after church.
I shared my heart with her and the scriptures and she got excited as I read vs 13 as that was a verse God used to help her totally relinquish her adoption process over to God. It is both a permanent statement (he HAS granted you this land) and a continuing process (he IS GIVING you rest). I knew this - but I just wasn't feeling the "rest" at the moment as I was frustrated at the lack of movement on the part of the people involved (or lack of communication). She prayed with me and God really poured His peace into me. It is HIM that I need to trust - not the people, not the situation . . . just HIM! If He can create this whole complex world, He can surely cause our adoption process (and all those involved) to go as HE has planned!

He also gave me some clarity on the vision He showed me before - about our boat on the river going through a narrow opening between 2 large, expansive slabs of rock. Jeremy has always thought the rocks meant danger. I always thought they meant difficulties along the adoption process - in the vision I got the sense that people didn't think we would fit between the rocks . . . but we did - just perfectly. The rocks extended all the way to the edge where a waterfall awaited us - a scary, fast, yet exciting waterfall that we ride down to a calm pool of water below. I have been asking God for some time - What do the rocks and waterfall represent? Are we there yet? Where are we on this "river"?
He led me to Pslams 62 - esp. vs. 1&2, 5-8. "My soul finds rest in God alone . . . He alone is my rock. . . my fortress, I will never be shaken . . . my hope comes from him . . . he is my rock, my refuge. Trust in him at all times . . . pour out your hearts to him for God is our refuge."
In the notes of my Bible for the verses in Joshua it said that "rest" is an important OT term - meaning a secure border . . . peace with neighboring countries . . . no threat of harm to life . . . etc. What God was showing me was that He was giving me "rest" - a secure border, no threats, etc - and what was that "rest" found in . . . the "ROCK". The rocks represented GOD - surrounding us on all sides - protecting us, making a secure border, guiding us down the river EXACTLY where He wanted us to go (no chance of us veering off), and staying with us till the very end (the waterfall). These rocks cannot be moved! It is a permanent path we are floating down! We have no paddles (and couldn't use them even if we did) - so we just need to sit back and REST! WOW! This gave me so much peace!
I am soooo glad that I know God and that I trust His ways for my life! He has never let me down, and His plans and ways have ALWAYS been perfect for me. I may not always enjoy the paths He takes me down - but they are for my good and I am thankful for them!

So . . . what's next? Well . . . more waiting. :) hee,hee. We are now just waiting for our agency to get the POA authenticated and down to Guatemala, and then the lawyer(s) can start the process in GT. How long that will take is anyone's guess. I am praying it will be fast like that waterfall!! :)

Please pray that:
1. Our POA gets to GT and logged in/registered VERY SOON!!!! This is important!
2. That the rest of our process in GT goes quickly and smoothly - that our paperwork will get in the right hands (speedy social workers and reviewers).
3. God would continue to bless our finances for this adoption.
4. God will not let anything hinder Wendy/Katie from coming home this year!
5. God will orchestrate things in GT to see that adoptions are ethical, compassionate and in the best interest of the children. There has been talk for some time of the US (or even GT) gov't stopping adoptions from GT to the US. We want to see changes that will benefit the children (relinquishements and especially the abandonment cases).

God bless you all today and this week! Thank you for all your prayers! I KNOW they have made a difference, and I have felt the peace that has come with those prayers! We truly appreciate and value your support through this amazing journey! How blessed Wendy/Katie is to have so many prayer warriors on her side to bring her home!!

Bless you a hundred-fold!!

Lori :)

No word . . . yet

2007-01-28T13:54:00.000-05:00

Many of you have been asking me . . . "So . . .any news? What's the latest?"

I'm sad to say . . . there isn't any news and we don't know when there will be. We have been in a holding pattern for almost 3 months now . . . doing N-O-T-H-I-N-G. . . .but waiting. The adoption process is full of alot of waiting (as is much of life in general) - so we expected to have to wait. Truthfully - we are at peace. We pray every day for her Certificate of Abandonment (that we now call her Certificate of Freedom . . . doesn't that sound better?!) will be signed and released to the orphanage, but we know it's all in God's hands and His timing. The part that is frustrating is not getting ANY info from the orphanage director. I would love a monthly email (at the least) saying - "we don't have her COA yet - but the lawyer has been down to check on it twice" or something like that. . . . . .anything to show me that something is being pursued and that they haven't forgotten about us and our adoption. :) Is that asking too much? . . . . I guess so.
The pics and video that my friends brought back with them have kept me going for the last month! I am soooo appreciative of that! Anyways - here are my prayer requests:

1. Wendy/Katie's COA (COF) to be signed and in the orphanage's hands THIS WEEK!!!
2. Better communication between the orphanage and us (or even our to our agency).
3. Finances - we still need around $7-9,000 (it depends on cost of travel - whenever we finally get to go get her!). PTL for what He's provided so far!!
4. Continued peace in our hearts while we wait for our daughter. The enemy can try to sneak into our thoughts and cause doubt - but we KNOW that Wendy Elizabeth is OUR DAUGHTER! :) So . . . . we wait. . . . . .

Thank you all for your prayers and support! Let us know how we can pray for you! God can do miracles through prayer!! He has already.

Bless you all today and this coming week! I am praying for miracles to happen!

Lori :)

Our girl in motion!

2007-01-11T11:33:00.000-05:00

Here are a few HAPPY pictures! Finally we can see that beautiful smile!

Also - here is some the footage of our friend Jack Munley and Katie Wendy that our friend Greg took on December 26th, 2006 in Guatemala at Casa Bernabe. I am so glad they could go visit our little girl!
We had to split it into 2 parts as You Tube only allows a 10 minute segment (unless you are a director). I will eventually edit these down along with Almarie's footage. But enjoy this "raw" footage for now. :) There are a few "smiles" in there and my heart just melts when she waves to "mommy" and gives kisses to the picture! :)

Lori :)

This one is 10 minutes, 29 seconds

And here's the second part! Enjoy! :)

This one is only 6:42

New Pictures

2007-01-07T14:51:00.000-05:00

Hi folks! I know that you have been DYING to see the newest pics of Katie! :) Well . . . here they are! Enjoy them!

Lori :)

The man in the pictures is our good friend Jack. He and his wife (and in-laws) were in Guatemala for C-mas and went to visit Katie for us and give her our presents on December 26th, 2006. She LOVED the bunny and the card with our picture on it and would NOT put them down the whole time! That just tickles my heart! :)

The pictures of her in green are from Jan 2007. What a sweetie!

I'll post more later. I just got some more in church today. :) Yeah! Also, I will try to post some video if I can even figure out how to do the video blogging. :)

She has such a gentle nature. My friends say that she got attached to Jack and was a bit sad when they had to go. I can't wait to meet her in person myself! Possibly in April!

Why . . . Why. . . Why?

2007-01-03T20:25:00.000-05:00

Ok - this doesn't have anything to do with our adoption - but I just had to share it! My youngest son, Jacob, just cracks me up and touches my heart so many times! Here's what I wrote about today:

Jacob, 4 years old, loves to ask “Why?” It doesn’t matter whether I start the conversation or he does – it will inevitably contain this common question. Today was no different.

While I was cutting Jacob’s hair outside on a warm winter day, we chatted about many things . . . cartoons, his toys, school, etc. But the best part of the conversation started off with a comment I made about his “crazy” hair.
“Why is it crazy?” Jake asked.
“Because it doesn’t know which way it wants to go. Some of it goes this way, and some goes that way, so I never know which way to comb it. It just has these crazy curls and waves.”
“Why?” he asked. (Here we go again)
“I don’t know. That’s just the way God made you.” I replied.
“Why did he make my hair like that?” he asked so sweetly.
“That’s a good question to ask God.” I thought that would appease him.
“But why did He make my hair like that?” He looked at me puzzled. “Was He trying to be FUNNY?”

I tried so hard not to laugh at his sweet innocence and insatiable curiosity. I could clearly see that he was trying to figure out the reasoning behind it all . . . figuring out the “why”. I did go on to explain that he was daddy’s son, and since daddy had wavy, curly hair, that’s why he had the same hair. God just wanted to make him like daddy. That answer seemed to please and satisfy him. . . . Finally.

I’ve long thought he will grow up to be an engineer or something along those lines – ever since he figured out how to take apart the metal arm on my front screen door when he was barely 2 years old (then proceeded to hand it to me saying “Meghan did it”. No she didn’t Jacob. “Daddy?” Nope). I didn’t even know how to take it off!

I also love it when I’m in the midst of concentrating or squinting, and Jacob will almost always ask me, “Are you mad, Mommy?” or “Why are you mad, Mommy?” It’s precious to see him watching those around him and trying to figure out what they are thinking and feeling. He definitely makes me more conscious of the expressions I am carrying around on my face everyday.

I pray that God develops that curiosity for His glory and His plans for Jacob’s life . . . for good and not evil . . . to prosper and not to harm. At times I can get frustrated with the endless why’s, but if I stop to really listen and seriously answer him – I just fall in love, over and over again, with this curious blessing in my life! . . . . . . . .Why? . . . . . . . . I’ll let you figure that one out!

-Lori :)

Thank you!!

2007-01-02T22:39:00.000-05:00

I forgot to say . . . .

Thank you!! to all who purchased an Entertainment book from us! We have closed out our account and it looks like we profited over $400. That may not seem like alot to some of you - but every little bit helps! That's $400 we didn't have before! So - thank you so much!

And for those that have generously donated toward our adoption . . .

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!! I am humbled each and every time you all have given SOOO generously! We can never thank you enough!! You are helping to change the life of, not just a child, but of future generations that come from her and are touched by her!! God bless you!
Tax-deductible donations can still be accepted at Life Int'l until Jan 31st (for those procrastinators like myself). Just make sure to "preference them for Kathryn West's Adoption. They will now count towards your 2007 taxes though. After Jan 31st - any money sent to Life Int'l will help to benefit other families through that organization (in the form of grants and loans).

OK - that's it! Just wanted you to know how grateful we are to all of you! :) May God bless you abundantly in 2007 - physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, relationally and financially!!

Lori & Jeremy West :)

Please God . . .

2007-01-02T22:17:00.000-05:00

Tonight, as in most nights, our youngest 2 kiddos -Meghan and Jacob - prayed that we could bring Katie (Wendy) home soon. Usually Meghan prays for us to "get more money so that we can get on the plane and go get her". I talked with her the other day about how it's not just a matter of money (we do still need that), but that we are waiting on the courts to release her paperwork, and then to process all of our paperwork. So tonight her prayer was "Please God, help the courts to say it's ok for us to adopt Wendy". I agree!!! AMEN!!!! Tomorrow will be 2 months from our wonderful phone call telling us about her, and yet we still haven't even been able to formally accept the referral as we are still waiting on that Certificate of Abandonment. This is not our agency's fault - I attribute it to me - asking God to show me who she is before our garage sale. :) So - I've been doing my best to patiently wait on God's timing with this - all the while still praying my heart out to see her papers released! In the meantime, I do feel like we got to connect with her in a way . . .

On December 26th, our friends - the Munleys and the Flicks - went to Casa Bernabe to visit Katie (Wendy) and bring her the gifts I sent to her. I am currently anxiously awaiting the pics and video that they took of their encounter!!! This is what they had to say in their email (hope you don't mind me sharing this guys):

Almarie, Hannah, the Flick Family, and I had the opportunity to go see Wendy yesterday. She looked great and very healthy. I don't think the pictures of her that you showed did justice to how adorable this child is. She has the cutest curls in her hair. She is so beautiful. Greg (Flick) took video of meeting her and taped me giving her the present that you sent. She loved the pink bunny and the card with the picture on it. In fact, she never put those two items down the entire time that we were there. I read the card to her and she smiled. She has a great personality.

The place itself was very clean. I was very impressed with the amount of space and land this place had. The kids there all were very clean and well taken care of. The house were Wendy was at had about 25 steps that we had to walked down to get to. Each step had a scripture verse engraved in the cement. I was very impressed with the whole place.

We took lots of pictures and video that I will send to you when I get back. I hope you are having a wonderful holiday.
Jack

It just tickles me pink to read this email! :) I can just envision her smiles and curls. I hope they got that smile on film! I had poured over many stuffed animals and had finally chosen a musical bunny (super-soft!), but then started doubting whether she would like it or not (it seemed kind of babyish . . . but then again - she's only 2 1/2!). I was soooo happy to hear she liked it! I picture her snuggling up to it in her crib at night. :) The card had a picture of our family on it, and inside I had explained the gifts we sent (they all represented each one of us in the family . . . did I already say all this in another post?). anyways . . .
I've heard that Jack is back in town, but I don't think we will get video or pics till the rest of the gang returns. At least that is what I have prepared my heart and mind for . . . . . . that way I won't be too disappointed if I don't get to see it this week.

Well folks - thanks for checking in on us! We value your friendship and support! Stay tuned for new pics and possible video! :)

Blessings!

Lori :)

ps - Oh - I had a dream back in Sept or Oct about a friend of mine being 7 - 7 1/2 months pregnant when my daughter comes home. She wasn't pregnant (in real life) at the time. However, I just found out that she is now about 10 weeks pregnant!! . . . . . . so . . . . . if my dream were to come true - we would be bringing Katie home in about 4 1/2 - 5 months! That would only happen through a miracle of God!! :) You never know! :) He DID create the world in 7 days . . . actually 6! :)

Merry Chrismas and Happy New Year!

2006-12-25T18:04:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I hope you all are enjoying time with family and friends! I know that some of you (like ourselves) are longing for that "missing" member of your family to be with you this year. What an exciting adventure we have to look forward to next year! :)

Blessings on you and your families today and the rest of 2006!

Lori, Jeremy, Tyler, Ryan, Meghan, Jacob (and Katie!)

Merry Christmas

2006-12-15T10:35:00.000-05:00

Here's another adoption song - about a little girl in China at C-mas and then the next year being with her family. I cried at this one too! (click on title above to hear a small portion)

It is from Third Day and is on their new Christmas CD called "Christmas Offerings".
"The title is "Merry Christmas"

There's a little girl trembling on a cold December morn
Crying for mama's arms
At an orphanage just outside a little China town
Where the forgotten are

But half a world away I hang the stockings by the fire
And dream about the day when I can finally call you mine

It's Christmas time again but you're not home
Your family is here and yet you're somewhere else alone
So tonight I pray that God will come and hold you in His arms
And tell you from my heart
I wish you a Merry Christmas

As I hang the tinsel on the tree and watch the twinkling lights
I'm warmed by the fire's glow
Outside the children tumble in a wonderland of white
And make angels in the snow

But half a world away you try your best to fight the tears
And hope that Heaven's Angels come to carry you here

Christmas is the time we celebrate the Holy Child
And we celebrate His perfect gift of love
He came to Earth to give His life and prepare a place for us
So we could have a home with him above

It's Christmas time again and now you're home
Your family is here so you will never be alone
So tonight before you go to sleep, I'll hold you in my arms
And tell you from my heart
I wish you a Merry Christmas"

Feliz Navidad!
Lori :)

Everything to me

2006-12-15T10:22:00.000-05:00

Ok all - I am sitting here wiping tears away from my eyes and trying not to sob too hard. I listend to KLOVE most everyday, and todaythey have Mark Shultz (Christian music artist) on. He startedtalking about how he was adopted at 2 weeks old and how thankful he is for his birth mom giving him life. Ok - so that almost made me cry - just thinking about that mom - choosing life (instead of abortion) and choosing adoption - and look what he has become and how many lives he has affected all over the world.
Well . . . then he got on the piano and sang the song "Everything to me" - which he wrote to say thanks to his birth mom. I will paste the lyrics below -though when he sang it today, he added another verse - similar to the second verse - but talking about him playing with his son and reading goodnight moon, etc. . . . . oh man. . . I just had to sit down at my kitchen table and just sob. I prayed for Wendy's(Katie's) mom right then and thanked God for her decision to give her life! As a mom myself - I know that the choice to give up your child has got to be one of the hardest! God bless these birth moms! and thank you Lord for leading us to our wonderful children!!Lori :)

Everything To Me(Mark Schultz / Cindy Morgan)

I must have felt your tears
When they took me from your arms
I'm sure I must have heard you say goodbye
Lonely and afraid had you made a big mistake
Could an ocean even hold the tears you cried

But you had dreams for me
You wanted the best for me
And you made the only choice you could that night

(Chorus)
You gave life to me
A brand new world to see
Like playing baseball in the yard with dad at night
Mom reading Goodnight Moon
And praying in my roomSo if you worry if your choice was right
You gave me up but you gave everything to me

And if I saw you on the street
Would you know that it was me
And would your eyes be blue or green like mine
Would we share a warm embrace
Would you know me in your heart
Or would you smile and let me walk on by
Knowing you had dreams for me
You wanted the best for me
And I hope that you'd be proud of who I am

(Chorus)
You gave life to me
A chance to find my dreams
And a chance to fall in love
You should have seen her shining face
On our wedding day
Oh is this the dream you had in mind
When you gave me up
You gave everything to me

And when I see you there
Watching from heaven's gates
Into your arms
I'm gonna run
And when you look in my eyes
You can see my whole life
See who I was
And who I've become

(Chorus)

© 2006 Crazy Romaine Music (Adm. by The Loving Company) / Word Music, LLC / Lola Max Music (ASCAP) (Adm. by Word Music, LLC)

*You can click on the title to hear a small portion of the song. It was much better - live and on the piano today!

ps - my friend Almarie is in Guatemala right now with a package for our little girl. She is hoping to go see her sometime next week and get some pics, etc. Yeah! Wish I could be there with her. One day. I sent down some PJ's, hairbows, and musical stuffed bunny, 4 books and a CD of me and Jeremy reading the books to her. 2 of the books were in English and Spanish and the other 2 I had Almarie help me translate them into Spanish. I read it both ways - though I am sure the houseparents and other native spanish speakers will get a good laugh at my Spanish pronunciations. :) I tried. :) I just wanted her to hear our voices. I was wanting to make a video too - but just ran out of time. Next time.

Adios!

I need my beauty rest!

2006-12-07T19:59:00.000-05:00

Lucy didn't get to the orphanage till after 7:30pm - and Katie was already asleep. They woke the sweet sleeping beauty up for a few glamour shots. :) As you can see - it was challenging keeping her awake. She tried to smile for the camera!
The woman with the long dark hair is Lucy, our agency director. The other woman is Carmen, one of the houseparents. I am grateful for these pics - even if they are of a sleepy little girl. It just makes me want to go down and snuggle with her! What a sweetie!

Well - that's all the news for now. Please pray hard that the Court of Minors (I believe that's the right one) will issue Wendy's (Katie's) COA SOON!!!! LIKE - THIS WEEK! or maybe next! What a wonderful C-mas present that will be!

Blessings to you all!!

Lori :)

Sleepyhead

2006-12-04T18:44:00.000-05:00

My director (Lucy) just came back from a week in Guatemala - visiting all the babies/kids that are in the process for adoption through KAS. She was able to go shopping and buy some gifts for the kids at Casa Bernabe (for C-mas I assume) but didn't get to Katie's (Wendy) house till 7:30pm. Katie/Wendy was sound asleep when she arrived. They did wake her up a little, but she was still pretty sleepy. Lucy said she will send some pics when she gets the chance, but I doubt there are any smiling ones.

As for where we are in the adoption . . . . we are still waiting. Evidentally, the Guatemalan court has yet to issue the COA (certificate of abandonment), so we are still waiting for that to be able to send down our POA (power of attorney) and officially start the adoption process.
PLEASE pray that the court gets that paper in the orphanage's hands soon! Jeremy and I still have peace that she is our daughter, but I will have much more peace knowing that we are "officially" going through the adoption process to bring her home. Know what I mean? :) Thanks for your prayers!

Despite the delays in Guatemala, God is still working here in regards to our finances/fundraising for the adoption expenses. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you to those that just recently gave towards our adoption!! I know I've said it before, but I will say it again and again . . . I am truly humled (to tears many times) at the generosity (and obedience to the Lord) that so many of you have shown to us! Some of you have been practically strangers to us - but have generously given - and that blows me away even more! May God bless you all 100 fold (and more) for what you have done! Your giving has always been an answer to my prayers! We are within a couple hundred dollars of having the money needed to be able to accept this referral. So - that may be the reason God has allowed the delay in the COA, etc. He still needs time to provide for the money we have to pay. :)
On that note - in case you didn't know - if you use our Google links & search engine, it does add a little money to our account. So, anytime you need to "google" something - come to our site. That's an easy and cheap way for you to contribute to our fund. :) Thanks so much.

Blessings on you all this week! I will try to post some pictures when I get them in. Thanks for checking in on us!

Lori :)

Life International

2006-12-03T12:55:00.000-05:00

Many of you have asked about donating before the end of the year to receive a tax-deduction. We have recently signed up to work with Life International to allow tax-deductible donations to be given in support of our adoption. Life International is a trusted organization administering the funds on Katie’s behalf, and will pay adoption expenses out of funds received. They will be accepting donations for our adoption until January 31st, 2007 only. In addition, any funds raised over the amount we need (or after the goal date), will be prayerfully applied to other adoptions as grants or loans, and not to pay administrative costs. That is one of the main reasons we chose to work with Life International.

To receive a tax deduction for your donation:

1. Please make checks payable to : Life International. To go towards Katie’s expenses, you need to preference how the donation might be used by writing “Kathryn West Adoption” in the memo section of your check.
(*Note: In following IRS guidelines, your donation is to Life International which retains full discretion and control over its use.)
Please send before January 31st, 2007 (or by 12-31-06 for your 2006 tax purposes)

2. Mail Checks to:
Life International
Attn: Kathryn West Adoption
PO Box 40
Gridley, IL 61744

3. You may also donate online utilizing Paypal (a small percentage will be taken out by Paypal for fees - somewhere around 3-5%) http://www.lifeintl.org/

Currently, and after January 31st, we can still receive donations at our house (payable to Jeremy or Lori West) or online via Paypal (minus a small fee). These are not tax-deductible, but are still needed. Contact us if you have any questions.

*We will also be closing out our Entertainment book sales on December 9th! If you have not yet bought one of these wonderful books, or you need more as gifts for friends or family members - contact us soon. We still have around 35 books here, or they can be ordered online (small s&h charge may be applied).
They are $25 (retail $30) and you get a FREE $25 gift certificate to a local restaraunt (of your choice) once you register your book online. So - in essense - you get the book for free . . . and then you get to save even more when you use your coupons! I don't know why anyone would NOT want one! :) Unless, of course, you don't like saving money! :)

Blessings to you all! I will hopefully receive some more info on Katie this week. Our agency director went to Guatemala this past week, so we are waiting anxiously to hear back from her and see some new pictures. :) As of last week, we still had not received all her info, nor did the orphanage have her COA (certificate of abandonment) in hand yet. I am hoping that they got that before or while Lucy was down there. That should be able to tell us more about how long this case might take. We'll see. Keep praying! It's in God' mighty hands now!!

Thanks again to all who have helped, supported, encouraged, prayed and donated financially to us! We could not have done any of this without all of you! And we are encouraged to know that we have warriors and supporters to get us through the rest of the journey! I pray it is an easy one - but am preparing for it to be difficult.

God bless!

Lori & Jeremy :)

Some new info!

2006-11-22T23:33:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving (tomorrow)!!!
Hope you all don't gorge yourselves on that yummy turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing (mine's the best!), pumpkin pie (the best - again!), and other fixins! Enjoy your families and friends and be thankful for all God has blessed you with this year!

I am thankful that I heard from Donie (the orphanage director) today! :) That just made my day! Evidentally they are still waiting on the certificate for the abandonment - but hopefully that will come soon. Katie (Wendy) has been at the orphanage since last summer (end of July - around the time got started stirring my heart towards adoption again!) after a previous adoption process was canceled (a relinquishment) because the mother disappeared and the court couldn't do DNA testing. I don't know if this will hinder things in the process or speed it up. I guess time will tell. There's alot of uncertainty going into this and it continues to be "steps of faith" all along the way. The enemy would want to use fear (and other things) to keep us from pursuing this adoption - but we feel so strongly that this is our daughter - that we are willing to depend on God to bring her home!

I keep thinking about the picture God had given me awhile ago about floating down the river. We could do nothing but float and let the current take us downstream. We came upon a narrowing between 2 large flat rockbeds. It didn't look like we would fit (no one thought we would) - but we DID (just barely). Then, at the edge of the rocks was a waterfall that we went down - scary yet exciting - and then a calm pool at the bottom where we floated over to the edge and got out. In a prayer time at our Mei Ming meeting a couple months ago, a man in our group said "I see a waterfall. You are going to get to the waterfall with a calm body of water at the bottom" . . . .hmmm . . . .where have I heard that before? :) Not 100% sure what the "waterfall" is - but I know we are going in the right direction! Downstream! Along with this, many other confirmations, and of course - my friend's picture she drew - I have alot to "fall back on" if I ever start to doubt that we are doing the right thing! God is so cool how He orchestrates things! :) Of course - I don't always see it very clearly when I'm going through it.

We ask for your prayers as we continue to move forward.
Please pray for Lucy, our agency director, this next week (Nov 26th - 31st) as she travels down to Guatemala to get some more info on our case and others.
Pray for a speedy and miraculous process for Katie (Wendy)!
Pray for strength and patience on our part during the waiting game ahead of us. It's all out of our hands - and that's hard for me. :) I like to be in control. :)
Pray for the remaining finances to come in (I know they will). We should hopefully hear from Life International soon about being able to accept tax-deductible donations (and possibly a matching grant). Hopefully before the end of the year for those of you that were wanting to donate and get a deduction.

God bless you all today! Be Thankful! God is Good! He bestows blessings on His children! If you don't think you've received any latetly - open your eyes . . . there are probably little blessings you have overlooked! Be thankful in all situations and circumstances! God is always there.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Lori :)

ps - For those that haven't seen it - here's a picture of Wendy from the Casa Bernabe website.

She's actually smiling! :)

Prophetic picture of Wendy?

2006-11-14T07:58:00.000-05:00

Check this out! My friend Bree gave us a card a month or two ago - sometime late Sept or early Oct (sorry - can't remember). She drew a picture of a little girl. She recently told me - "I just drew it, I kind of felt like it was more than just drawing it, but I didn't know if that was me just me being hopeful and excited. Anyway, my point being was that I drew that wisp of hair from her bangs, which I don't think I usually would've done, then the pig tails but that could've been any little girl....just thought it was interesting, I prayed that God would have me draw the right picture. I didn't know if that would mean just a sweet little girl or your future daughter. . ."

Check out Wendy's pic that was on the orphanage website -

We wondered if this is what our little girl would look like. Well, after seeing the picture of Wendy - check this out . . .

For those that haven't seen the other pics of Wendy - I'll try to post them here too. For some reason it is letting me upload pictures today. :)

September 2005

September 2005March 2006

October 2006

Hopefully in the future I can get more "happy" pics from this shy girl. :)

Have a great day!

Lori :)

ps - Thanks Bree for the beautiful card!

Kathryn (Katie) Wendy Elizabeth

2006-11-13T12:57:00.000-05:00

Well folks . . . I spoke with Lucy (my adoption agency director) and our referral of Wendy IS a "real" referral!! Why is that so exciting to me??? Read all our previous posts and you will find out! :) Lucy was shocked that she was able to get ahold of the orphanage last week (on the first phone call) and was doubly shocked that they were in fact offering little Wendy to us to adopt so soon(as she just became available recently). It's all God!! That's all I can say! I am praying that the rest of the process is also a "shock" to Lucy and everyone - as far as the speed of it, how smoothly things go, etc. Now - I'm not being stupid or blind, as I'm sure there will be bumps along the way - but I can still pray for the impossible!! :)
We are still waiting on all the "details" about Wendy (who I think we have finally decided to call Katie - short for Kathryn). The orphanage director, Donie, has bee quite busy (I can only imagine!! I thought caring for 4 kids was busy - imagine 150+!!). I am praying that I hear from her (or Lucy) very soooooon! Otherwise this week will drag on . . . .slowly! :) Once we get all the info, then I think we will be able to "officially" accept the referral (sending our Power of Attorney down there and paying half of our lawyer and agency fees). Yeah! That will be a great day!! :)
On the positive note . . . we did find out that the lawyer fees will only be $10,000 instead of the ridiculous $20,000 that some of the other lawyers charge. Hallelujah! Praise God! We get the girl of our dreams AND we end up paying less for the fees! Of course - I may end up spending that other 10k on travel if the case takes a long time. :) We'll see.
We have some friends who are going down to Guatemala around Christmas, and they have offered to go visit Katie (Wendy) for us. Man do I want to just go with them!! We'll see. I don't think it's a realistic financial opportunity for us right now. Instead we will be heading to Missouri for Christmas to spend time with Jeremy's family. Two loooooooong days (there AND back) in the car with 4 kids! Yuck! To fly it would cost us over $2000. :( Oh well. One day.

Here are some pics of Katie that a friend of mine was able to send me. She does some missions work at Casa Bernabe twice a year. I am sooooo thankful for these pics. She said she even has a little video she will send me! Yeah!

Lori :)
ps - For some reason I can't get the pics to post - so I will have to try again later. I'll try to post them on our other website too - www.freewebs.com/bestofthewests.

The Guatemalan Adoption process

2006-11-08T23:14:00.000-05:00

I know that in one of my posts I may have listed the basic process for adopting from Guatemala. I found a better site that lists all the steps for relinquishments as well as abandonments. You can check it out at http://www.guatefam.org/process.htm. It may help some of you that are confused (like me). :)

Still no news from the orphanage. Maybe tomorrow. :) I hope.

Lori :)

Our Last Referral??

2006-11-07T20:56:00.000-05:00

Well folks . . . . I hope it is . . . our last referral (at least for this adoption! hee, hee. Jeremy says "Hunh? Do we have another one?"). Here's the story . . .

We got a referral of a little girl on Friday around noon!! Yeah!!! I had asked God all this last month if I could PLEASE know who my daughter was before our fundraiser yard sale last Saturday (so I could show people who we were really adopting!) . . . . even Friday morning I said - "OK God - you only have today. I know you can do it!". And He did (I hope)! But what a cool story it is!! :)

I don't know if you knew or remembered me talking about an orphanage called Casa Bernabe (House of Barnabas - or House of Comfort)? We had applied to it back in the spring when we were with A Helping Hand as they thought they would be able to find a little girl there for us. I had gone online and couldn't pull up the pics of the kids for some reason, but found a PDF file that listed some of the kids that needed sponsorship. One name stood out from the rest - Wendy Elizabeth - B-day: 4-20-2004. It probably stood out because she was 2, and her name is very American sounding - PLUS - Elizabeth is mine and Meghan's middle names (OR - it could be that God was drawing my heart to her). Anyways - about a month later the pics finally came up. I fell in love with this one little girl in the pics - and found out her name was . . . . Wendy Elizabeth. I printed her picture and even took it to MOPS to show some friends the "kind of kids" that the orphanage had and told them I would LOVE to adopt a little girl just like this! :) Wendy was never listed as available for adoption and I never even heard back from Casa Bernabe. We (along with AHH) gave up on getting a child from CB. As most of you know - in July we switched to another agency all together - Kentucky Adoption Services.

I knew that KAS worked with an orphanage - but I never knew which one. I found out that another client did some missions work at C.B. and had seen a picture recently of her with one of the kids. That made me want to go and check out the C.B. website last week - just to see who was available for adoption. Wendy wasn't listed as adoptable, so I checked to see if her picture was even still on the website. It was! :) What a cutie!

WELLL . . . On Friday - Lucy, the director of my agency, called to say that she had called C.B. (the agency they work with!!!) and was telling the director all about "this family" (us) that felt led to adopt an orphan girl (versus a recent relinquishment). When she told her our name, the director said - "I know them." Hunh? Lucy couldn't understand how she would know us or have our info (she didn't know we had applied last spring). She was then shocked to find out that the director had been praying over our info recently and whether to place a certain little girl with us . . . . . . yep! . . . you guessed it . . . . .Wendy Elizabeth! :) How cool is that?!

So - the director of C.B. called me on Friday, but didn't really have any more info for us as she didn't have Wendy's file in front of her at the time. She was going to get it on Sunday and give me a call/contact me early this week (but haven't heard from her yet). She did say that they thought that Wendy was going to originally be placed with a Guatemalan family, but that didn't work out, and that she just recently became available to be adopted.

There are pros and cons to adopting from the orphanage - one good thing is - it may actually be a bit cheaper. Haven't confirmed that yet though, but that would be a blessing.
The bad thing is - it could take a lot longer . . . 7 months to 3 years (vs 4-7 months for a relinquishment)! There can be some hang-ups with an abandoned child because the parents are not around to sign her away. The courts can sometimes get really picky and may want to double decree that she's abandoned (long story to explain) - and that can take 18months or more (ie -looking for any possible long-lost relative anywhere in the world who might want her, etc!). We are praying (and would like you to pray as well) that her paperwork gets in the right hands!! That she will be able to go through the process in a quick and timely manner - and not have it dragged out so long. Plus, there's the chance that Guatemalan adoptions to the U.S. might shut down next year sometime, so we really want to see her case move fast just in case.

So - will you please pray with us as we are hoping to be able to accept this referral this time! :) I don't even know all her info - but J and I have such a peace about her (and all the "coincidences")! Pray that things move quickly and without problems. Pray also for the lawyer who will be handling the case. We may be using a lawyer that is newer to adoptions - but is a sharp Christian man. We are also praying about whether God would want us to change her name at all. I like Kathryn (but call her Katie probably), but the kids like Kaitlyn or Wendy Woo! :) I don't know about that last one! :) (It's a character on the Disney channel - or so I've been told). Though, Meggy-Poo and Wendy-Woo kind of go together! :) hee, hee.

To see little Wendy (and all the beautiful children at Casa Bernabe) - you can go to their website at www.foce.org/gallery.html. Click on "Angelitos" in the top left - scroll the numbers over and click on #17. That's Wendy! I'll post other pics after we get some more info. Maybe God will lead you to even sponsor one of the kids there! Who knows! :) You don't have to adopt the kids to support orphans!

Thanks for all your prayers! Keep praying . . . the battle is just beginning (believe it or not)! I'll let you know when we actually sign a Power of Attorney for this little girl (and make our referral acceptance official!). I just couldn't keep in the news any longer!! :) I love this little girl!

God bless you all!

Lori :)

Yard Sale Results

2006-11-07T13:30:00.000-05:00

OK now! This is the THIRD time I am trying to post this!! The first time (sunday) the site went down for maintenance 2 minutes before I logged on, then earlier today I spent awhile typing it all up and published it . . . but only the title showed up! Man! Bum deal! Anyways - here goes again . . .

The results are in . . . . the West Adoption Fundraiser Yard Sale was . . . .

FREEEEEEEEZZZZING!!!!!!!

I do believe it was the first frost of the year even! It was 78 degrees last wed (and nice and warm today!), but on Saturday - it was barely able to reach 50 as a high! Despite the frigid temps - there was a decent turnout of addicted, die-hard garage sale shoppers!! We had a little space heater out there to warm up our calves now and then, and you would be surprised at how many people inquired as to if it was for sale! :) I did put an ad in the paper even though I knew our community was putting on in too - and mine ended up listed as the first one! :) I hope that helped draw some people. We probably would have sold more if the weather had been warmer, but I was quite impressed by the turnout we had! Most people seemed touched to learn what we were doing (and how much it cost), but we still had the few hard-core negotiators who still didn't want to give us anything near a fair price. :) Oh well. God bless them too! I was a bit bummed that I didn't take a picture of the massive amounts of stuff spreading across my lawn and driveway. :( You know how I am about my pictures and documenting everything! :) Oh well.

Before I go on - I need to thank everyone who helped us out with this sale!! I could NOT have survived without you!!!
Thank you Taits and my parents for rescuing me on friday and helping with last minute tagging, etc!
Thank you Ryan (our wonderful neighbor) & Jana for coming at the ungodly hour of 6:30am - and for those that wandered in thereafter - Meg, Juli, Sandi, Stephanie, Terri & Bo (and anyone else I forgot to mention) . . . . I felt so nauseous and faint about mid-day (probably due to stress, not eating well, freezing, etc) that I was so thankful to know the sale was in GREAT hands!
Thank you to eveyone who donated such wonderful junk . . . I mean - Treasures! Without it - there wouldn't have been much of a yard sale! Thank you so much! I do have to say though, that I am glad all that stuff is finally out of my house! My dust allergies were making me miserable for the last month!! And to let you know what happened to your leftover items we didn't sell - we chose a ministry in Chesapeake called Victory Home. It is run by a local church and ministers to men and women in crisis (due to addictions, abuse, etc). The 2 men who came out to pick up all the leftovers were amazed and blessed by your generosity! Your donations just became a double (if not triple or more) blessing!! Thank you so much and God bless you for your generosity!

As for the grand total . . . all that sold, donataions and a generous donation from my awesome MOPS Secret Sister (which was hand-delivered early in the a.m. by a young man) - all totalled around $1600!! Quite impressive considering how cold it was! PTL! God is good!! We are getting closer, little by little, to our goal!

I have alot more news to tell you - but for now I need to go help my kids with their homework (as they are not doing on their own for some reason????? Imagine that). Thanks for checking in with us! Please check in soon as I really do have some more exciting news to tell you! I've just run out of time right now! :)

Blessings today!
Lori :)

Yard Sale!

2006-11-02T17:10:00.000-05:00

First of all - Thank you so much - all who have contributed to this sale and to our adoption already! We appreciate it more than you know! Even just the prayer support means a ton!! We always need it!

Just a reminder to everyone that we ARE still having our adoption fundraising Yard sale THIS Sat. Nov. 4th from 8am - 2pm.

We currently have 1 person coming to help on friday for last minute pricing/signs,etc and then coming bright and early on Sat to help with setup. She will have to leave by 9:30am. That leaves just me and J (and our 4 rugrats - hopefully behaving in the house) to man the garage sale. We would LOVE some company & help (to keep our minds off the cold weather I'm sure! Why does it have to get cold just on the weekends I plan things? Our camping trip was freezing as well! Oh well.).

If you can help out for a couple hours on Saturday - we would love the help! Set up will go alot faster with more people, and I would love some "talkers" or salespeople to help "run" the sale and talk with people about adoption. I will have Mei Ming and KAS flyers to pass out, and would really like to get the word out about adoption! So - if you are friendly and like talking . . . I need you! :) If you are not friendly - but great at setting up and organizing . . . I need you too! If you can change the weather on Sat to a warm, non-windy day . . . I REALLY need you! :)

As for what we have for sale:

ENTERTAINMENT BOOKS (I really need to get rid of the rest of these!!) - $25 each - but end up being FREE after you register your book and get your $25 restaraunt coupon!!

Kids & Adult clothes (quite a few larger men's pants - around sz 42)
Women's and kids shoes
Baby swing, door jumper, and playpens
2 changing tables
2 Microwaves
wooden Rocking horse
Strollers/carseat
household/kitchen items
Cat/pet carrier, dog food dishes
games, toys, puzzles
videos - kids and adult
books - novels and instructional
CD's - few music, PC, etc.
Bread maker
Computer equipment
Back massager - that sits in a chair
Beach items - chairs, boogie boards, floaties, etc
Furniture - dresser/hutch, side table, daybed, chairs, (possibly a computer chair)
Queen size mattress and boxspring (if we can get it to our house)
Bikes - boy's and men's
Power wheels riding dumptruck
Linens (comforter, sheets, curtains, etc)
And more . . . . .

I will have info on our Mary Kay fundraiser as well, for those that are interested.

Please pass on this e-mail/info to those you know. Thanks so much!
If anyone has any last minute things you would love to get rid of - let us know! You can drop it off through friday evening (the sooner the better)!

Thanks everyone! God bless you guys!

Lori & Jeremy West :)
loriwestrn@yahoo.com - any questions, let us know.

Mary Kay Fundraiser

2006-10-23T12:19:00.000-04:00

One of Jeremy's co-workers has generously offered to give up her Mary Kay profits till Nov. 15th to help us fundraise!! Please check out the info below. If you have never tried Mary Kay products, I urge you to try. I have been using them for over 11 years and LOVE them! (BTW - the acne treatment gel does miracles overnight on those stubborn and annoying zits!!) The products are wonderful and last a looooonngg time! :) Check it out!
Please pass on this info to anyone you know. If you only need and order a little, that's ok - it can go a long way if everyone orders a little! Thanks so much! Oh yeah - and if you order, you will be entered into a drawing for some free stuff! :) Yeah!

Thanks again!
Lori :)

Dear Friends,

Please join me in an exciting opportunity to help the West family raise the funds needed for the expensive process of adopting a child from Guatemala. I am a Mary Kay™ Independent Beauty Consultant in the Virginia Beach/Tidewater area. I am donating the profit of sales through this fund-raising endeavor to the West family’s adoption fund. You can treat yourself, shop for Christmas gifts and help them at the same time! The West family will receive 40% of every purchase you make with me between now and November 15th.

To help just go to my website: marykay.com/donnarussell. Be sure to check out all our new products and seasonal gift items. They’re awesome! I can even gift wrap or package gifts and take care of shipping them for you!

When you check out please register as a new customer if you’ve never shopped with me before or simply log-in if you’re a returning customer. *Use the “comments” feature to note that your purchase is for the West family adoption fundraiser.* (If you already have a consultant but want to help with the fundraiser—let me know. I can work something out with you and your consultant so you can help the West family adoption. )

As a THANK YOU I will give you:
Complimentary Extreme Makeover (skincare, micro-derm abrasion, color) in person or virtually.
2007 Coupon book with monthly discounts for the entire year— including major savings on skin care products that will keep you beautiful all year long!
Register your name in a drawing for a free Timewise Anti-aging Day/Night solution (a $60 value).

Share this fundraising opportunity for the West family with a few friends through a no hassle on-line skin care class and receive extra coupons and gifts.

Sincerely,
Donna Russell
Phone: 757.227.5655
Website: marykay.com/donnarussell
Email: donnarussell@marykay.com

Ana Julia has found her family!

2006-10-23T10:46:00.000-04:00

Nope - not with us! :) My friends have prayed over her for a couple weeks, and God has answered all their requests for confirmations! One of the coolest confirmations came right after my friend had prayed.

They had received a call last year on Sept 10th in the middle of the night from someone in China (twice I believe). It was so strange that they prayed about it and felt that that date held significance - maybe their little Chinese daughter's b-day?! They have scoured the special needs lists for any little girl with a Sept 10th b-day. They never found one. Well, just this past week, after praying, they got a call from Lucy at KAS and she had more info on Ana Julia. Her b-day was . . . . . . Sept 10th!!! Can you believe it? Also, God had told them that their next little girl's name would mean "grace" . . . which is what Ana means! :) Isn't God cool?! Had they received their Chinese referral before now - they wouldn't have thought twice about this little girl, I'm sure, and if WE had accepted a referral sooner, we would not have heard about Ana Julia at all!! God sure works in mysterious but perfect ways!! He has opened door after door for our friends - but they have one last hurdle to cross- getting the blessing from their current agency. Please pray that their agency will not have a problem with them pursuing this adoption while they continue to wait for their chinese daughter. Also pray for Ana Julia as she is severely chronically malnourished (18 pounds at 2 years old!). The ES orphanage caregivers also do not like AJ much as she is mixed racially with curly black hair and they think she is the ugliest child there. :( She's FAR from ugly!! Very cute - but sad and timid looking. Pray for her protection and that God will send someone who can love on her and protect her! I know God is watching over her - but someone in the flesh can do wonders for a child! Pray that her case is able to move at a quick pace withought problems! And pray for the finances to afford this second adoption. 1 income - 2 adoptions!! Thanks so much!

So, as for us - we are still waiting. Pray for Lucy as she is down El Salvador (and Guatemala I think) this past weekend (?and into this week). Pray for her safety and for divine appointments.
Pray for our daughter - whoever and where ever she is! I know God's timing is perfect! I just want her to be safe until we can go get her!

Pray for our finances still. We are having our garage sale on Nov. 4th (pray for warm weather!!) - and we still need donations and volunteers (and shoppers). A co-worker from J's work has also agreed to host a Mary Kay fundraiser for us (till Nov. 15th only). I will list the details in a separate post for you! Consider helping us out - or pass on the fundraising info to those you know! The more the word gets out, the better!

Blessings to you all! We are so appreciative for everyone who has supported us (in every way) during this exciting adventure!

Lori :)

ps - for those that have been praying for Tyler (our oldest son) - he went up for prayer at church at the beginning of October, and we had launched an all-out prayer attack on the enemy (who has been causing many of Ty's problems). I can honestly say - I am seeing a different kid!! I don't recognize this much more mature, kind, and more stable 11 year old - but I like it! :) He has been playing sooooo nicely with his siblings (esp. 4 year old Jacob, who he couldn't stand before because "he gets into my stuff") and his anxiety attacks have lessened tremendously! He's had almost 2 solid good weeks at school!!! Yeah! PTL! I even debated on whether to start him on the medicine - but decided to go ahead as it is a low dose and it might help some as he is learning to use the new coping skills we are teaching him (and while we are praying!). Praise God for the miracles he's doing and the ones to come!! Keep on praying for God to complete the healing and transformation in Tyler! In church they prayed that he would have the strength of Sampson and full of compassion!! I'll claim that! :)

Another referral - El Salvador?

2006-10-06T22:47:00.000-04:00

Yes - I now firmly believe that God is just trying to keep me entertained! What will he think up for next week? I'd be happy if it had something to do with winning alot of money! :) hee, hee. Or maybe a tropical vacation?! As for this week's adventures . . . . .

On monday, I got an interesting email from my agency director asking if we would be interested in looking at and considering a little 2 year old girl from El Salvador. Her name is (get this) Ana Julia. :) It would require a new dossier, a longer stay in country (Hey - I'm ready for a vacation!), and some added time, but cheaper costs. It would take 9 -15 months from the time our dossier got down there till we could bring her home. Hmmmm . . . . this definitely wasn't on my radar! Nor did it seem to go along with the picture God had given me of floating down a river. When you float - there's no work involved there (unless you are going down rapids and you're trying not to hit the rocks!!). My first reaction was "I don't think so". We had to pray about it. My director said she would send the info and pics that day - but I never got any. I didn't know if she just forgot or what. I didn't want to ask, as I really wanted to hear the Lord on this little girl before seeing her pic and getting attached (that seems to be easy for me to do!).
J and I prayed and talked about it, and I just wasn't sure. I was open to whatever God might have for us - even if it meant switching countries (esp. with all the craziness in Guatemala last week and the FALSE rumor of a possible shut down on Oct 1st). I decided that I would lean on J for the confirmation on this one. My heart is too empathetic to the plight of so many orphans.
J didn't get a peace about it. Not that he really got a check against it - but just had more peace about staying with Guatemala. I kind of felt the same (I think?). Anyways -
I knew a friend of mine had talked about El Salvador and possibly looking into adopting from there - so maybe I could tell her about it all. Maybe that was why we got this info. Instead, I was talking to another friend, and the minute I mentioned E.S. she just lit up with ohh's and ahh's (before I even told her about the little girl). They are in the process of waiting for a referral for a little girl from China, but lately God has been tugging on their heart towards El Salvador (for a sister for thier Chinese daughter-to-be). I gave her the little info I knew and told her I didn't think we were going to pursue it.
The next day she called me back and said she couldn't get this little girl off her mind - and her hubby was really interested too! :) I gave them our agency info and she was able to get ahold of them today. :) Maybe God was using us to bring this girl to her family (I'm starting to feel like an adoption agency myself - finding lost mom's - referring children to others . . . . . when will I find MY daughter? hmmmm .. . . ).
Well - I finally got to see pics of little Ana Julia tonight. She is a cutie - sad and timid looking, but definitely cute. I am praying that God will show my friends if this is to be their daughter. How cool would that be! :)

On top of that adventure - we are starting to see some progress with Tyler this week. On tuesday he had an "A" day (according to him)! PTL!! Wed was a rough day at home with me. He did well on thursday till 1pm. That seems to be his hard time - after 1pm, till 4pm. If you think of it - please pray for him during that time. God is doing some good things in him and I am so proud of how he has taken on the challenge of changing some things in his life! I actually saw quite a bit of a responsible 11 year old today! :) He was very fun to be around. :) We are seeing the nurse practitioner on monday to talk about a possible med for the anxiety and attnetion problems. We'll see.

Well - it's late, and I need some sleep. We had to cancel our garage sale for tomorrow due to a lovely Nor'Easter that came through town. I'm kind of relieved as this week has been exhausting in many other ways. Always an adventure here at the West household! :)

So - what kind of adventures did you have this week? Keep us up to date on what God has you doing! Thanks so much for your prayers and support! Keep it coming! Continue on with my previous requests. They are still needed! Also - we have been applying for grants and will be trying to sign up next week for a program to accept tax-deductible donations. It's alot of forms to fill out! But on the praise side - we've had a few people just hand J a check (or cash) at work to support our adoption! God bless you guys for doing that!!

Blessings this week!
Lori :)

Attack!

2006-10-01T12:47:00.000-04:00

Hello all! Hope you are having a great day today! Just know that God is beside you everywhere - all day long! :) PTL for that! He's always there to help and comfort! I, for one, have turned to Him many times this last week! I have felt an increase in attacks on our family as we have determined to pray harder for many things and are getting closer to God. You know you are on the right path when the enemy starts taking aim! :) The sad news (for the enemy) is that I am not backing down!!! AND - I have many warriors on my side as well!! Thank you all who are walking in this battle with us - daily and weekly! I need you! Thanks!

So - here are my prayer requests (battle plans!):

Tyler - We want to see breakthrough and transformation in his life this year! He has battled anxiety, depression, attention/focusing problems, over-emotional reactions to things, and possible Asperger's Syndrome (some days I doubt that diagnosis, and others it seems to be in full force). It has been affecting him at school, and they are tempted to not let him come back (it's a small christian school that doesn't have the resources for "special needs" - including Ty's anxiety attacks, I guess.)
We want to see healing, deliverance and a "re-training" of many bad habits. I KNOW that God is going to - and I know that He is helping us! I also KNOW that the outcome will be good - but the process is just challenging (imagine having to retrain the hair on your head to grow/fall a different direction?! God is putting on some hair gel to help us out - but we still have to comb it every day in the direction we want it to go!). Ty did go up for prayer today at church (he wanted to!), and I know that God is working in him! Keep praying with us and for us (esp for patience and discipline to go the distance). And pray that he will be able to still attend his school!! :)

Juliana - Keep praying for her situation. It's still not resolved. I found out more info this week, but can't really share it online. Just pray that she will be fully "released"! We want to see her get out of the court system down there and to be brought home to the US. Keep praying!

The mom of 2 girls - that you've been praying for . . . the lawyer did not follow through with the DNA approval! :( There are other (crazy) issues going on there too. Please continue to pray for the release of her girls! Pray for her - that God will carry her through this "fire"! I know He can and will - but it's still hard to go through. Please lift her and her family up in prayer! Thanks so much!!

Those are my main concerns right now! Thank you to all who are willing to pray with us! We will see miracles happen!!

God bless you all! Please let us know if we can be praying for you too!

Blessings!
Lori :)

Edited versions & latest news

2006-09-23T21:54:00.000-04:00

Well folks -
I have edited the 2 entries ("a weird turn of events", and " . . .part 2"). If you hadn't read them before, that's ok as you just won't know what you missed (a good reason to be checking my blog more often - hunh?! :) hee, hee.). If you have read them before - just keep it all in prayer. Thanks. I'm trying to be considerate of other's personal lives, but still letting you guys know about my personal adoption journey - and that included our last referral. Anyways - I'm movin on! I wonder what God will think up next to entertain me. I'd be ok if things were a bit quiet for awhile. I might even get some cleaning done around the house! :) hee, hee. . . . . well, maybe not! :)

So - what is new with you all? Drop me a line sometime. I'm thrilled that you guys are reading my blog and interested in our adventures - but I would love to hear yours as well! :)

As for the latest on the Adoption front:

A big THANK YOU to all who have helped us out so far financially (esp. the recent donation to our paypal acct . . . you know who you are!!)! You all are a blessing and I pray that God will bless you back a 100 fold!!

We are still selling the Entertainment books till the beginning of December. The coupons in them are good till Nov. 2007 - and many of them have a "Repeat savings" feature which allows you to print more of the same coupon online (like the Portsmouth Children's Museum! My kids love that place.)! And don't forget - when you register your book online, you will be able to print out a $25 gift certificate for one of many (over 150) restaraunts in our area (maybe more wherever you live) - so it's like getting the book for free! :) You don't have to live in the Hampton Roads area to buy one. They have many books for all over the country! Try it out and help out our adoption!

We are also looking into having a yard sale on Oct 7th at my mom's house (5208 Canoe Landing, VB) in Lake Christopher. We are looking for donations for the sale (and volunteers as my mom will actually be out of town that weekend!). If that day doesn't work out, we may have it on Nov 4th at our house. I'll let you know. If you want to volunteer to help, or have things to donate - let us know soon! We'd really appreciate it! We'll be selling the Entertainment books at the yard sale as well. So come by and get one! :)

We have applied for a couple grants, and are in the process of filling out a few more applications. Haven't heard anything yet, and I'm not sure if we will get any grants - but it never hurts to try. We may even try to set up an account to accept donations that offer a tax deduction for the donors. I just haven't gotten that far in my paperwork yet (with all the excitement/drama this last week).

Oh yeah - and we are starting to collect ink jet and laser toner cartridges to recycle as part of our fundraising efforts. If you have any old ones you'd like to donate, let us know. That's better than just throwing them in the trash! :)

Ok - I know that was alot about money -but that's just where we are at right now. . . . waiting for a referral, and praying & strategizing about how we will pay for the referral and adoption. :) Sorry if I bored ya!

Thanks for all your prayers. Continue on! The battle is not over, and I expect more bumps and jostles along the way! Our boat ride down the river may have some rapids along the way - and that's ok! I trust my Guide! Hope you do too!

Blessings on you and your family today!
Lori :)

Missing info

2006-09-22T08:47:00.001-04:00

Sorry guys - had to remove some info. Hope you understand. Still keep praying for our adoption and all that's been going on.
Thanks
Lori :)
I'll let you know when I've posted the edited versions of "A weird turn of events" parts 1 & 2.

2/09/2011 - I added back in the info I had taken out - especially since it's been a few years - and Juliana is back in our life now (we are sponsoring her)! It will be interesting to see what God does in her life and with our lives connected again now! :)

A weird turn of events - part 2

2006-09-21T07:59:00.001-04:00

Hello my friends and family!
I just wanted to let you know to keep praying for the adoptive parents of little Juliana. It has been an emotional rollercoaster ride the past several days (for me as well). My heart just aches for them! I've cried several times over everything! Wish I could tell you more - but just keep praying it will all work out!

As for the other adoptive mom (who's 2 girls are still stuck in the Guatemala court system) - I just got word that the lawyer is finally going to file for DNA approval on this coming monday! :) Yeah!! Please pray that this really happens! Alot can go wrong throughout the whole process, but I know that God can move these mountains!!!! Please keep them in your prayers - come join the battle with me! She is really encouraged that God may be hearing our pleas!! Yeah!!

Thanks so much guys! You are affecting lives and generations forever!

Lori :)

2/09/2011 - I'm posting part of the original unedited post here.

Hello my friends and family!
I just wanted to let you know to keep praying for the adoptive parents of little Juliana. It has been a rollercoaster ride the past several days. One day it seems they are hopeful to get her back, the next day - telling me they hope I get Juliana if they can't, then back to thinking they may get her home. At least that's the gist I get from the mom's emails. My heart just aches for them! It's now looking like they will not bring her home and I just cried - for them and Juliana. I cannot imagine what they are going through. It's like losing a child.

There may be a chance that the adoption process could be "undone". We'll see. I hope so - for Juliana's sake. If it's not, she will be stuck in the court system forever and go to an orphanage. Not a good thing. If the adoption is "undone", I don't know if she would be referred to us again or not. It would all depend on what lawyer gets "custody" of her. She may go back to our lawyer, and in that case, we may see her again. Only God knows and it's all in His hands - thank goodness!

Thank you for your prayers so far for Juliana and her adoptive parents here. They are grieving again, as you can well imagine, and would covet your prayers still. Thanks.

The Rest of the Process

2006-09-19T10:07:00.000-04:00

Many of you have asked about when we would bring our daughter home (once we get and are able to accept a referral!). Here is the basic process after referral (apprx. 4-8 months of waiting!):

The Guatemala Adoption Process (and approximate timeframes)

External Relations Ministry
The case is registered with the courts and the documents are certified.
Translations
All documents are translated into Spanish for the courts
DNA Testing (30 days)
The US Embassy authorizes a DNA test for the biological mother and the child. The test is analyzed by a lab in the United States.
Family Court (6 weeks)
A social worker is assigned to interview the biological mother and the foster mother. The report is prepared and the case is approved to continue. DNA test approval. Irrevocable release by birth mother to Guat. atty.
Procuraduria General de la Nacion (PGN) (1-4 months, or more; varies)
The office of the Attorney General reviews the entire case to ensure that all the documents are in order. PGN then approves the adoption to be passed through the remaining procedures.
INS Medical Exam
The Immigration and Naturalization doctor will review the entire medical records to ensure that all vacations are current and that the baby is in good health.
Birth Certificate
A birth certificate will be issued with your last name on it for your child.
Passport (20 days)
A Guatemala passport will be issued for the child. You can get a US Passport issued once you return home.
Final Embassy Review (2 days)
The US Embassy reviews your file to ensure that all the paperwork is in order to process your travel visa. "Pink" interview - waiting to get "Pink" appointment slip to pick up child.
Pack your bags! :)

As you can see - our journey is only half way done (or maybe even just 1/3 of the way done). Thanks for the support along the way so far. Keep on praying! :)

Lori :)

New Best of the Wests website

2006-09-17T13:07:00.000-04:00

Just wanted to let you know that I am starting to set up a new website (as a trial). It will allow me to add more pics and videos, etc. I will probably still blog on this site. We'll see. I did import my blog entries on the new site - but it's not as easy to navigate to the entry you want as this site is. Anyways - you can check it out at www.freewebs.com/bestofthewests/ .

Later!

Lori :)

A weird turn of events

2006-09-17T12:41:00.001-04:00

Here's the latest.
I got a call from Lucy (our agency director) on Thursday saying she finally had good news and bad news. The good news is . . . . she had some info. The bad news is . . . what the info was.

Evidentally, (to make a long story shorter) our lawyer was not responding to calls/emails as she had found out that Juliana had already been in the adoption process a year or two ago, and something happened that halted the process. Juliana was still stuck in the court system! So, Lucy was going to try and find out who this family was that had tried to adopt her before and see if they were still interested, and if not, if they would write a letter (or whatever they needed to do) to terminate the adoption so we could move forward with it possibly.

The whole story sounded vaguely familiar to me - and I thought I had read something like it before on my Guatemalan yahoo group, so I posted a message for any info on little Juliana on my group. I got a response right away (which was a miracle as this woman had stopped reading the yahoo group email's - but my title had caught her eye. Now that's God!).

I spent 2 hours and over 33 emails on friday to connect the dots between the woman who responded who knew the previous parents, the prev. agency handling the case, the parents who had tried to adopt her, Lucy, and of course - Jeremy (to keep him in the loop). In respecting the adoptive parents, I won't really go into the details. That side of the story is theirs to tell.

I can tell you (with permission) that the original woman who told me about the adoptive parents has also been through a 2 year ordeal and still has hardly progressed with her adoption of 2 beautiful girls (still possibly in Family court -since Feb. Can you imagine?! Bless her heart!). She has given up (mentally,emotionally, etc) and doubts she will ever bring home her 2 girls (3 & 6 years old). :( My heart breaks for these 2 women!

Will you guys please pray for these ladies and their adoptions? Pray for their girls to be released, for their Mommy's hearts to be at peace and filled with hope and trust in God, for these cases to progress forward, and for God to send His angels to do the spiritual warfare needed to get these girls to freedom!!

As sad as it seems that we (once again) did not get the child referred - I am at total peace. I thought earlier today that she may be our daughter and it would all work out - till I talked with Juliana's adoptive mom and found out all the info. I am glad we could be used to (hopefully) help this family. I would want someone to do the same for me!

So - we are back to waiting. :) I'm getting pretty good at it. :) Actually - we haven't really been "just" waiting for long. God knows I like to stay busy, and I think that's why He allowed me to be "able" to redo so many of our forms, etc. :) hee, hee. It gave me something to do. Just imagine if our dossier had been right the first time? I would have been waiting since June! (Not as long as some people - I know) Anyways - it's all in God's hands. Our daughter will come to us when she is supposed to. :) I know that for sure. I've got enough craziness around here to keep me busy till she does. :)

Blessings!
Lori :)

2/09/2011 - Ok I am going to add back in the parts that I had edited out before. It's been 4 years - so I think it's fine to tell her story - especially considering how Juliana is back in our life now!

Here is what I took out of this post. (I'll add things to the other post as well if I edited that one too).

This family actually got to choose Juliana's name the day she was born (the day they got their referral). That was March 2, 2004!!! They got all the way through all the courts in Guat, and all they were waiting on was the official new BC and their visa/travel appt. and the atty stopped the process for some reason (no one really knows). The lawyer didn't really disappear - but didn't continue to work on the case. The poor family hired Adoption Supervisors (probably to the tune of several thousands of dollars) and have been to Guatemala several times to try and get things finalized. No such luck. I think they had given up. I found out they actually live 2 hours from us and still have Juliana's room all ready (they were originally hoping to bring home a baby and were not sure about a toddler - so I thought there may still be a chance they could write a letter to terminate the process - but they are too far into it now to just do that). Anyways - Lucy contacted the other agency and hopefully things will get moving for this poor family. That is my prayer!

**Side note - I found out the adoptive parents are now divorced, and the mom has no intentions of trying to bring Juliana home (I think she still might have been able to as she most likely was grandfathered in before adoptions shut down - because of how far they were in their adoption. I could be wrong though.). So sad.

Happy Independence Day!

2006-09-15T22:06:00.000-04:00

September 15 is Independence Day in Guatemala, celebrating the independence of the countries of Central America from Spain! On September 15, 1821 Guatemala gained its Independence from Spain. This Independence Day is shared with all the other Central American countries except for Panama and Belize. Following this, Guatemala was briefly part of Mexico and then later became a part of the United Provinces of Central America. This confederation fell apart due to a war between the members that occurred from 1838 to 1840. At the end of the war Guatemala became an independent nation.

Here is how it is celebrated in Guatemala-adapted from guatadopt.com!

Independence Day is not a tourism draw and is not celebrated much outside of the country (like Cinco de Mayo) but is a local Guatemalan celebration. Since it is a national holiday many Guatemalans take the opportunity to travel to the more traditional tourist areas to watch celebrations. On the day preceding Independence Day the national anthem is sung with gusto in schools. The Schools, and even the school buses, are decorated with patriotic motifs in celebration. Traditionally the army of Guatemala celebrates with a protocol act and air acrobatics, usually for the audience of the President. As the day comes to a close children and adults can be seen waving small plastic Guatemalan flags in the streets and the stores are decked out in Blue and White decorations.
While Guatemala is celebrating so are the other countries of Central America. Since they all achieved independence together they also have ways of celebrating together, though many celebrate on both the 14th and the 15th. A torch, which begins in Guatemala on the 14th, travels by relay race down the Pan American Highway to Costa Rica where it arrives on the 15th. Along the route people decorate homes and schools. Children dress up in their finest school uniforms and cheer along with the adults as the runners and the torch goes by. It is a great honor to be chosen to be a runner of the Independence Day torch. As runners cross between countries borders there are cultural ceremonies with dignitaries of all the Central American countries there to honor Independence Day.

So Happy Independance Day!

Lori :)
ps - I will have to tell you all about the craziness today concerning Juliana. Got to go put the kids to bed, so maybe tomorrow.

Juliana Gabrielle . . . our daughter??

2006-09-11T22:31:00.000-04:00

Hello friends and family! So - you want to know, hunh? :) Well - so do we! Here's what we do know:

We had to wait over the Labor Day weekend, but on Wednesday (Sept 6th), I got an e-mail from Lucy (our agency director) stating that she finally got some info on the little girl, but it was still in Spanish and didn't look like it had much medical info or any pictures. She wanted to know if we wanted to wait till she got everything or just to go ahead and send what she had (she was leaving for Haiti in the morning). I asked for what she had (of course!) and later told Tammy (Lucy's Guatemala adoption helper/advocate) to go ahead and send me the documents in Spanish (she had called at 5pm saying they hadn't received the translations yet). We have 2 neighbors that speak fluent Spanish (one is from Spain and the other from Mexico) - so I think we could get it translated! :) I actually could understand most of it, and had a couple friends (not even my neighbors) help with the rest.
In the letter, the lawyer said she would fax the medical info and email some pics the next morning (Thursday). Well - it's now monday and we still have not heard back from the lawyer. My agency tried contacting her again today. Hmmm . . . . . what's going on Lord? It is hard to feel like we have a "real" referral, as we don't have all the info. Even Lucy said the same thing. :) As you can imagine - I check my e-mail even more frequently throughout the day (is that even possible?!) just waiting for the pics and info! Though - I do still trust that it's all in God's timing as the past 2 weeks have been quite stressful for me with school starting and all the new schedules, etc. (teaching Ty at home MWF) - so, not having to figure out the finances to accept a referral yet, has been a blessing. God has a reason and has His ways! They are definitely NOT my ways!

The other interesting thing that the Lord has done lately . . . is to keep making me cry! . . . or was that my hormones? Well, I can blame that on God too! :) No, seriously - last night at our monthly Mei Ming (adoption ministry) meeting - we were praying for the Chinese orphans and adoptions and I was totally overtaken! I saw a picture of a huge wave, like a Tsunami, sweep over the land in China and wash through an orphanage (or several) and over all the kids - submerging them. I just started to cry. I wanted to sob uncontrolably - but held it in. I didn't know what it meant. I didn't think it was a literal interpretation, but it still made me cry. Then I felt like God told me that this was a picture of His love for these children - the orphaned, and was I ready to experience it? . . . . I would love to say - yes I am - but when you do, it's too overwhelming. Your heart is full of love and heartache all at once - and the power of it overwhelms you like a Tsunami wave! I didn't like feeling out of control in it, but I do want more of His heart - it's just hard to handle.

Then today, somehow, in one of my many online adventures, I ended up at a website for US kids that needed adopting. I came across this little girl - Carolina. I could not stop crying for over an hour. I would slowly stop, but as soon as I thought about her, or any other orphan for that matter, I just started weeping uncontrollably. And of course my mind just went crazy trying to figure out why the spigots in my eyes wouldn't shut off! Was it just my "mother's heart" feeling for this child (I was crying as if she was my own child just diagnosed with end stage renal disease. I just wanted to take her home and love on her!)? Was it the shame I felt for wanting a "healthy" child? Was it the desire to help this little girl? Was it the feeling of sadness and frustration at the unfairness in life for these little ones? Was it God? Was it my hormones? Was it just stress??. . . . . What was going on? I had to lay down on my bed and weep before God and pray for this little girl, and others like her that I have seen recently online, who may never be adopted because of their "special needs" - but who desperately want and need a loving family of their own! I called and talked with (more like sobbed to) my mom and had her pray for me, and that seemed to finally slow the stream of tears to a trickle and eventually they stopped altogether (thankfully!). But I'm still not 100% sure of what the intense emotions were all about with this girl. I had almost started to cry when seeing a few other kids before - but nothing like this!

Anyways . . . . I'll stop telling you my "sob stories". :) hee, hee.

So - Back to our referral . . . Pray that we get the final info on little Juliana Gabrielle (that's her birth name) so that we can make a decision. She is 2 1/2 years old (born March 2nd) - which is right about the age I was thinking we would get. By the time we brought her home, she would be 3 probably - or almost 3. Meg plays well with the 3 year old down the street, and I think she would like being a "big sister" to a "little sister", instead of having a sister almost her age. We'll see.

Also - continued prayer for:
- Adoption Finances (haven't heard back from the grant application; am planning of having a garage sale this fall; we're still selling Ent. Books, and starting to collect ink and laser cartridges for recycling; plus there are some other possible fundraising ideas that we haven't approached or tried yet; and finally - looking into low interest loans or 0% credit cards . . . we'll see where God leads)
- Info to arrive soon!
- Coverage for our whole family! - we have felt very attacked lately (J's stress at work, me with my new, busy schedule of schooling and "taxi" mom, etc, etc, etc)
- Orphans around the world - to be released to families that will love and care for them!

Thanks so much you guys! We love and appreciate you - as always!!!!!

- Lori :)
ps - Hopefully our next news will be tears of JOY when we accept a referral! I hope so!

Dossier is Finished . . . I hope!

2006-09-02T22:48:00.000-04:00

Sorry so long between posts - not much exciting happening. . . . .But - I think I can safely say that our dossier is officially finished! Our last form (the Home Study agency's license copy) was authenticated at the State and Consulate levels and was received in KY at KAS on Friday! Yeah! Now they can send it to Guatemala for translation into Spanish. :) I guess that is exciting!

About a week and a half ago, our agency director came back from her trip to Guatemala. I was anxious to hear if she had any good news for us. On that tuesday, she responded to an email of mine and said that she "may have a referral of a toddler girl" for us "soon". I was thinking - within a few days! But no phone call or email the rest of that week. This past monday, I emailed again. She said that she was quite frustrated as she had called Guatemala every day the last week and had not heard back from the attorney who had told her about the little girl. As of this friday, she still hadn't heard, despite her "pestering". Hmmm . . . . did the atty fall off the face of the earth? Is this delay a ploy of the enemy or the plan of God? We are praying that, if she is meant to be our daughter, God will release her to us soon. If she is not meant to be our daughter - then the delay is fine (and justified). Only God knows. I feel at peace about it, even though my "mother's heart" and curiosity are anxious to see who our daughter will be. I feel like I'm in my second trimester of pregnancy and I am waiting to get my ultrasound to see what I'm having! :) The day can't come quick enough! :) Once we get our referral though, it will still be 4-7 months till we bring her home. Having her home for Christmas is getting slimmer and slimmer. :(

I still check the precious.org site quite frequently looking at the little babies and kids that need to be adopted. I've fallen in love with quite a few of them. Several of them were at another agency that I had contemplated switching to when we switched to KAS, but I just didn't feel a peace about them when I talked with their staff a couple times. They weren't mean or anything - I just didn't get that inner peace like I did with KAS. . . . . Gotta follow the "Peace" - even if it means we have to wait a little longer. God knows our needs, wants, desires, etc. I trust Him 100%. Plus - we still need about $8000 to be able to accept a referral, and then we'll need another $11,000 towards the end of the adoption process. We are still in the process of trying to come up with the money. On that topic though - we have been blessed recently with 2 $500 checks to be applied towards our adoption! :) PTL! God is good! Oh yeah - and the blessing of the new van couldn't have come at a better time. We gave our old car to my parents, and just a little while later, my mom's car completely died!! They would have been scrambling to get a new car, but now they can at least take their time and still get around town. Thank you God!

Well guys - thanks again for all your prayers. Pray for the release of our daughter, and the finances needed to bring her home. Pray for wisdom as to how to bring in the finances (extra job, loans, grants, fundraisers, etc). Thanks so much for the encouragement!

Blessings today!
Lori :)

ps - We do have the Norfolk entertainment books in, so let me know if you need one. They are regularily $30 (or $32 online), but we are selling them for $25 (unless you want to give us $30 for it. :) hee, hee). You get a free $25 gift cert to a local restaraunt just for registering your book online! We've already used our certificate at Taverna in Va Beach for our Anniversary. Very yummy! So it's like getting a free book basically! You'll be glad you got one! Lots of great coupons!!!!

Entertainment books are in!

2006-08-21T19:19:00.000-04:00

The Norfolk/Hampton Roads Entertainment books are in! You can save alot of money on places you already may visit (ie - Bruster's, Fazoli's, McDonald's, Burger King, IHOP, Bennigan's, Kyoto Japanese, Children's Museum of VA, The VA Zoo, etc). Email or call us for your copy! They are only $25 through us (if you order online - you may be charged a $5 S&H fee - so get one directly from us to save you some money). You can order online through the link in the sidebar or click on this title. You can even order a book for someone in other cities - so pass this info on! Thanks.
We really appreciate it!
Lori :)

Home study license update

2006-08-18T20:15:00.000-04:00

Praise God! :) Not only did I receive the new copy of the HS license with a date by the notary's signiture, but it is a different license all together. Why is that good? Because I didn't even notice that the last one was a Maryland license and the new one is a Virginia license. We, obviously, live in Virginia and used the Virginia office - so that is the one I needed to begin with. Also, the MD license expired in Jan 07 (which could still be when our adoption is in process) and the VA one doesn't expire till March 09! PTL for His divine providence in allowing us to get the right form before we sent if off through all the authentications, etc. God is good!
Just wanted to let you know! The license is on it's way to Richmond for state authentication. Yeah!
Later!
Lori :)

Esther was adopted!

2006-08-18T10:15:00.000-04:00

Hello all! Ok - before I explain the title, let me catch you up. Sorry I haven't updated sooner - but as usual, it's been another busy week!

Jacob surgery went beautifully! Thank you all for praying! I could tell he was bathed in prayer. He was not scared (he was actually excited to go smell the grape flavored mask in the OR) and recovered 4 times quicker than my other boys ever did from surgery! I barely had time to sit down in the recovery area before they told us we could go home! No nausea or vomiting, no excessive sleepiness, etc. For those that didn't know - Jake has had several styes in his lower eyelids this last year, and ended up with several Chalazions on the inside and outside of both lids. They were never going to go away (and people always asked what was wrong with his eyes because of the red spots, etc) - so they had to surgically remove them. It was a short surgery, but it did require general anesthesia. Anyways - his eyelids are looking much better! A little redness still, but on the mend, and definitely better than before! Oh yah - and today is his 4th b-day! Happy Birthday Jacob!!

As for the adoption - I got a call from KAS that our dossier looked great and was all done . . . . except for . . . . . . (????Hunh??? Something else?) . . . we were missing the notarized, authenticated (x2) copy of our home study agency's license. ???? We were never even told we needed it! Oh well. One of these days we will actually be DONE with this paperwork (I hope). So I called and left a message at our HS agency and didn't hear back from them. Left another message this past monday - and they finally called me back. They had mailed out the copy on friday, so I should recieve it soon. It actually did come in the mail on monday, and I was all ready to send it off to be authenticated when I realized that the notary didn't date her signiture. I wasn't sure if she had to or not - but I thought that was pretty standard. I called my agency, and they said it may be fine how it is, but they would rather just get it done right ("since you don't have a referral yet and we are not in a need to rush things" . . . why do they keep saying that to me? I would LOVE to have a referral and be in a rush! :) Oh well). So - I called the HS agency back and requested to get one with a date on it. She said she would do it that day and get it in the mail. I expeceted to receive it Wed or Thursday - but didn't. Hopefully today. So . . .. when that is all authenticated . . . THEN we will be PAPER READY! yeah!

Lucy, the director of KAS, is still in Guatemala and should be returning tomorrow. Please pray for her safe return. I, of course, am hoping that she has found our daughter with the help of her lawyer, but I'm not gonna hold my breath. I do have a sense of peace these past 2 months that it's all in God's timing and His big, capable hands. In my devotions today (reading from Cynthia Heald's book "A Woman's Journey to the Heart of God"), I read a wonderful statement about waiting. This definition, of the value of waiting, was written by A.B. Davidson - "To wait is not merely to remain impassive. It is to expect - to look for with patience, and also with submission. It is to long for, but not impatiently; to look for, but no to fret at the delay; to watch for, but not restlessly." That described how I feel exactly!! With each delay, I don't have that feeling of fret or panic, but peace. I long for, expect, look for and watch for the arrival of my daughter - but it has been filled with a strong peace! I can't explain it any other way. PTL that I know the author of that peace and can lean on Him during this process! There are so many adoptive parents who live in fear during the whole process. Anyways . . . . I'll keep you updated on whether we get a referral soon (or not).

As for Esther . . . . . .
I was praying this morning for my daughter. Because we are looking for a 2-5 year old, we have not decided on what to name her, as she may end up keeping her name (especially if she is older). I have liked the name Kathryn Grace (meaning "Pure, virginal" and "Grace of God"). My oldest son picked out Kaitlyn or Kathryn when I was pregnant with Jacob (and wanted to still call him that even after we found out it was a boy! I don't think so!). Anyways - I was asking God what name he would want for our daughter. Would we just keep her name, or is there another name for her? What will she be like? Etc. God brought Esther to my mind - not necessarily the name, but the person and the story. I've always liked the story of Esther (a beautiful young lady who gets chosen to be queen and helps to save her people!! What little girl wouldn't fantasize about being her?!) I flipped open the Bible to Esther and started reading. Besides the fact that Esther was a "virgin" (see Kathryn's meaning above), what jumped out immediately to me (that I had never noticed before at all!!!) was that Esther was adopted!!! (So - Tait's, you have the "Tarzan effect", but I have the "Esther effect"! :) hee, hee.) Esther 2:7 - "Mordecai had a cousin named Hadasah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father or mother. This girl, who was also known as Esther, was lovely in form and features, and Mordecai had taken her as his own daughter when her father and mother died." vs. 15 - "When the turn came for Esther (the girl Mordecai had ADOPTED . . . )". She also left her "people" to go live with the King (who was a totally different nationality), and God used that to help her save "her people"! What a beautiful story of God's Divine Grace! I feel like God was saying that our daughter would have an Esther spirit - beautiful, pure, good heart, smart, (of course all the things we all desire for our kids!!), and that the reason God is allowing her to join our family is not to leave her "people" behind, but to be able to have an impact on them in the future! She HAS to leave them to save them (spiritually, physically, etc - I don't know. all of the above?)! God's plans are perfect! Aren't they?! So . . . .as is God's usual style - my question wasn't really answered directly (Jesus always spoke in parables too!) - but what a picture and reassurance of God's love and plans He has for our daughter! It just tickles me pick and lifts my spirits!

The great news is - that God has awesome plans for each and every one of us! It may not be to save a whole nation, or to find the cure for cancer, but the impact your life has on even just one little child (or adult) - can have an everlasting consequence and can potentially touch millions of lives thereafter!! Just think if Billy Graham had never accepted the Lord as Savior! Even though he was raised in church, he had a time of wrestling with the issue of whether the Bible was the infallible word of God while he was at college. What if Henrietta Mears had not helped him with that issue? What if Forest Hope Christian camp had never been started (where Graham made the decision that the Bible was in fact God's infallible words and decided to follow God wholeheartedly)? Just one decision we make, one life we touch, can potentially reach into the millions because of our commitment to follow Christ and His will for our lives (even if it SEEMS that we are not doing anything"big" for God). So - keep on following God's calling on your life - whether it's to adopt, support adoption, be a stay at home mom, a working mom, etc. Just make sure you are doing what God wants you to do and you can't go wrong!!! :)

God bless you all today! Sorry this ended up being so long - but I had to share what was on my heart! Hope it didn't put you to sleep. :)
Thanks for your support and prayers!
Blessings!
Lori :)

Paper ready? & Entertainment books

2006-08-09T15:00:00.000-04:00

The Guatemalan Consulate in DC got our paperwork last thursday afternoon, authenticated it all, and sent it out on Friday evening! Faster than I expected! :) It arrived in KY at our agency on Monday morning. Yeah!(though my agency didn't tell me it had arrived when I spoke with them monday afternoon - maybe they hadn't opened their mail yet)! The director and assistant for the Guatemala program are reviewing all our documents again today to make sure they are all correct. I am soooooo glad they are sooooo picky! Like I said before, out of thousands of documents they have sent to Guatemala over the years, only 4 documents have been kicked out of PGN to be fixed!!! Only 4!!! That's a fantastic record!
We did get a big dossier packet in the mail from KAS on Monday and when reviewing it, I noticed that we didn't do a form (that AHH never required), and I also noticed that a few forms that we had authenticated at the state and consulate level - they didn't require them to be authenticated (for KAS). Oh well. Each agency does things differently. I wish they had told me that though before I sent them off to the consulate. That would have saved some money. Oh well. I typed up the Child's Rights Affidavit that we hadn't done and sent it off to KAS along with new G28 and I600 forms, etc. KAS will take care of the authentication of the Child Rights form for us. Thank goodness. :)
I also found out that our agency had quite a few baby girls become available this last month - which explained why the director told me to "let her know" if we changed our mind from a 2-5 year old and wanted a baby. :) It's unusual to have to "find" parents for these baby girls! Usually they go quickly (and hav e probably already been placed). It did make me stop and think for awhile. I'm so anxious to know who my daughter is - that I wonder sometimes . . . should we just take a baby? Are we really supposed to get a toddler? . . . you know - all sorts of things run through my mind. I just keep praying and following the "Peace". Right now - J and I still have peace about a toddler. Some of those babies are darn cute . . . . but I have been really enjoying being out of the "baby stage". No diapers, nap schedules, strollers, bottles, etc. I can actually sit and relax at the pool, while my kids play, for the first time in over 10 years! :)
Anyways - our daughter is out there somewhere, and I know the Lord will show us clearly who she is.

Pray for Lucy, the director of KAS as she goes down to Guatemala the middle of this month.
Pray for the lawyer that is looking for our daughter.
Pray for our daughter to be safe and to be found soon.
Pray for us - for paitence, peace, health, and for our finances (adoption and otherwise). (oh yeah - Jake's surgery is at 9:15 am tomorrow, Thursday. Pray it goes well)

Thanks for all your prayers! We appreciate it wholeheartedly!
-Lori :)

ps - Most of you have received an email from us (thru Entertainment), but for those that we don't have your email address . . .

We are selling the Entertainment discount books (for all areas of the country) to help raise funds for our adoption. The Norfolk area book is $25 and we recieve a percentage (based upon the number of books we sell - so obviously, the more we sell, the better). You can save a TON of money by using the coupons in the book (which includes many places you probably already spend money at)! We saved over $2000 on a hotel near Disney through our book 3 years ago. It was a 5 star place at 1 star price! The coupons are good till November 2007!
If you live near us and want to purchase them - let us know. We will be getting books in around the 21-15th of August. You can also order online (I think there is a $5 S&H charge??). Let your friends know too! Thanks so much! You'll love this book! We've been using them for over 10 years!

*If ordering online -
You can click on the title of this post or the link on the sidebar. Make sure it says you are supporting "The Best of the Wests" in the green section near the top of the Entertainment site.
Or
Go to http://www.entertainment.com/support/ and type in our group number (or seller number) to give us credit for your order. Thanks.
Group # 883993
Seller # 321301

To the Consulate

2006-08-06T13:54:00.000-04:00

Hello all! Here's this week in review:

1. We were able to notarize our slightly revised forms on Wednesday (Thank you Cheryl, Todd, Marsha, Jeremy and Dr. Riles)! God bless you all!

2. Our authenticated (or is it certified?) forms have arrived at the Guatemalan Consulate in Washington DC to be authenticated there this coming week! Then they will go on to our new agency - Kentucky Adoption Services. Hopefully the Consulate won't lose our forms or mess them up like the Secretary of the Commonwealth did. Please pray! :)

3. On Thursday - one of the hottest days this week- I came home in the afternoon to a hot house . . . our AC broke! :( . . . . . PTL though - we were able to get a wonderful man (W.P. Hogge, Jr) to come out right away (that evening) and fix it (for a heafty price though)! He had been working since 4 am that day and was still at our house around 6:30pm. I'm so thankful for AC!!

4. No news on the referral front this week. That's ok. We are still finalizing our dossier stuff. Though, it would be nice to already have the referral for when our dossier is finished. God knows. :) I just wish He'd clue me in on the time frame of it all. :) Hey - I did go to the Prophetic Presbytery meeting on Wed to be activated in the prophetic . . . . so . . . let me tell you when we will get a referral! . . . . . . . In God's timing! :) Hee, hee.

5. We have applied for a grant and are starting to work on our fundraising efforts (now that our paperwork is done). Please pray for wisdom in raising/getting the money we need. I know that God will provide - I just don't want to overstep my boundaries so that His will can prevail.

6. I've been having some balance problems this week. Please pray. It seems to have gotten worse the last couple days. I have been on a healthier diet - a hypoglycemic diet - as I was having problems after eating carbs/sugar, etc. I had been feeling soo much better (untill I got a grande Caramel Frappucino at Starbucks! I'm not doing that again for awhile!). I don't know if I just have some fluid in my ears; my neck is out of alignment; my hormones out of alignment???; or something else. I have had bad vertigo in the past - and it ended up being related to my vertebrae, and going to a chiropractor helped. I don't really want to spend the money (or time - his office is 25 minutes away) on a chiropractor. I'd rather be healed! :) Anyways - please pray for me! I don't like feeling incapacitated. For those that really know me . . . . I like to go, go, go and be in control. When your head is spinning and you can hardly walk - there's nothing you can do but lay down. I think God uses it sometimes to slow me down! :) great. . . . . .Thanks for your prayers!!!

Coming up this week - please pray for:

1. My balance/health issues

2. Jacob's surgery on his lower eyelids (on Thursday) - he has had several styes this year that wouldn't heal and the doc says they are Chalazions. "A Chalazion is a non-bacterial lump on the eyelid caused by a blocked mucous gland under the eye." The puss core hardens and won't come out - so they have to surgically remove it. Quick procedure - but has to go to the hospital and be put under general anesthesia for it. :( Pray for the procedure to go well and for quick healing. (Or even better - pray that they Chalazions go away before the surgery!!!)

3. Adoption financial wisdom - how and where to get the money for the remaining $20,000 that we need.

4. My oldest boys are at camp near Lynchburg this week! Pray for their safety and that God will touch their hearts in a profound way.

Thanks so much you guys! What would I do without you all?! I appreciate your encouragement and support so much!
God bless you today! May your rest in His peace that passes ALL our understanding!!!
Lori :)

Dossier forms

2006-07-28T19:12:00.000-04:00

Hello gang! I can't believe another week has flown by! Too fast! Summer will be over before I know it and I'm no where near ready for school to start (especially since I will be kind of homeschooling Tyler - my almost 11 year old. He will be attending Oak Tree Academy 2 days a week and home with me 3. We'll see how it goes.). Anyways -
I did finally get ahold of "someone" at the Secretary of the Commonwealth's office last friday - and she was able to fix and send out a new form for the one that had the wrong date. She didn't know what to do about the missing one - so she said Tabitha would have to call me back. I didn't hear anything from her, so on Tuesday I called, and Tabitha sent out an authentication paper Fedex. I've got all my authentications now! Yeah! . . . . However . . . .
Today I was talking with my notary about having to resign some revised forms, and when I was looking over the old forms and authentications, I noticed that 4 of the authentications were missing the words "Notary Public" where it states who the official signiture is from. So . . . . back on the phone to Tabitha. She corrected them and is FedEx'ing them today. :) Man - 3 days in one week I've gotten to see the FedEx truck at my house! How exciting. :) hee, hee. Anyways, Tabitha has been really nice and unfortunately for her - we were not the only ones who have had problems. Tabitha just came on staff in the spring and has done a superb job of catching up on alot of the backlog, but in July they hired a temp/intern to help her (Tabitha said she was only about a week behind instead of 4 months like before). . . but it looks like the temp/intern may have done more damage than help. Poor thing. I'm just glad we were able to get all of it straightened out over the phone!

So - here's our other news . . . . Some of you know that Jeremy has a vehicle that doesn't fit our whole family (only 5 people), and so when my car is getting repaired - we can't go anywhere all together. We have been praying about getting a bigger van/vehicle - but have never felt a peace about the timing or the money. I kept telling him to hang on a little longer. :) His car has over 170k miles on it - but it's not a horrible car. I've been in worse (ie - the first car I ever rode in with Jeremy - his rust-colored, and rusted, diesel Chevy Chevette!!! Ask about it sometime!). anyways - last sunday we were having lunch at my mom's and when J went to get in his car, and the brakes went all the way to the floor! Scary thing is - my dad had just driven the car up to the store! PTL he didn't get hurt! Jeremy was upset about having to put more money into a car we wanted to get rid of anyways, and he started to complain to God "if You want me to have a bigger van, then YOU have to pay for it!". OK - so it wasn't very polite or reverant - but God heard it. We went to a party at a friends, and they had just purchased a new van (nice! Envy!). They asked us if we knew anyone who needed their old van? Hunh? They were going to give it away? Hunh?! Actually . . . . . . we do! :)
So - we are getting a bigger vehicle! :) It actually has more miles on it than J's car and needed a little bit of repair work - but we agreed to pay for the repairs (cheaper than buying a newer van, that's for sure!) and I think this van will (hopefully) get us a little further along till we can get a newer (less milage) vehicle . . . . after we pay for this adoption! PTL! God is good! He hears - even when we are angry and frustrated . . . He still cares and loves to surprise us!

Well, I've just been reminded that I am missing out on Fun Family Friday here at the West house - so I need to get off the computer. Thanks for taking the time to check on us, and keep us in your prayers. Also - a BIG THANKS goes to our friends for giving us your van (you know who you are) and for Tabitha and all she's done to help us with our authentications (don't know if she will ever read this though)!
God bless you all today! He's in control . . . . and that's a good thing! :)
-Lori :)

Snap Shirt

2006-07-21T09:06:00.000-04:00

Hey guys! If you have a blog (or other site) you've got to check out this cool site! You can type in your url and it will scan your site for the most commonly used words and make a word clump for you. You can then order it printed on a shirt, mug or other stuff. It's interesting to see the words you use the most often as well. You can change out some words if you don't like the ones on there - even change the font and color. Here's a sample (in chocolate brown/Helvitica)I took of our site today.
-Lori :)

Mei Ming Adoption Ministry

2006-07-20T20:12:00.000-04:00

Most of you who read my blog already know about the adoption ministry at our church. For those who don't - it is called Mei Ming (which means "no name" and Mei is a common name given to the orphaned chinese girls). Click on the link to check out their new website or go to www.meiming.org. You will find testimonies of several families that have or are in the process of adopting, as well as our meeting schedule and more.
-Lori :)

Redo!

2006-07-20T19:56:00.000-04:00

I still have not heard back from the Sec. of the Commonwealth - after 3 messages left and several more phone calls over the last 2 days. I keep getting a recording to leave a voice message. I'll try again tomorrow. Though, now it may be a moot point. . . . .here's why . . .

I had Jeremy fax all the copies of our documents to our new agency to be reviewed for accuracy before sending to the Guatemala consulate for their authentication/certification (whatever it's called). I had done this with AHH and they had said everything looked fine, though I had questioned them about a few things that didn't seem right to me. I was trusting the "experts" though. Anyways - my new agency prides itself on being picky during the dossier prep part (isn't that what we are paying them for anyways??) so that we would not get kicked out of PGN in Guatemala (Procuraduria General de la Nacion . . . .it's like the Attorney General's office) to have to redo our forms then. KAS has only had 4 clients ever get kicked out of PGN - one was something they wouldn't have expected and the other 3 were things they should have caught. Some people get kicked out of PGN several times and alot of people just expect to get kicked out at least once. Anyways - I am glad that KAS has 3 different people looking over all our forms to check for mistakes. I'd rather fix it now than later! So - as you can guess . . . we have to redo a few forms, get them notarized and authenticated again. That's ok. It was disheartening at first, as some of the issues were the same ones I had raised before, but some of the things were not. So . . . back on a small paperchase again! Hopefully this will be it for dossier paperwork! :)
-Lori :)