No word . . . yet

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!

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

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?

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!!

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 :)