Merry Christmas Sweetheart...

Progress Report

Here is an update of both our adoptions

Lydi@ - It looks as though everything has been cleared up with our case! After everything we've been through with this case, and how dire things appeared last week, this is nothing short of a miracle. We are elated! What we don't know yet is how long we have yet to wait. Our file was in the investigations department, and we aren't sure how long it will take them to turn it back over to PGN. Additionally, nobody knows yet how the new laws which go into effect January 1 will impact pending adoptions.

Baby Girl - Because of the help of many friends who started paperwork for us while we were in Guatemala (thanks a bunch to Angie, Atsuko, Tim, John, Peggy & Jeff, Randi & Scott, and General Mills folks), we were able to get all our documents notarized, certified at the Secretary of State, authenticated at the Guatemalan Consulate in Chicago and into the hands of our attorney within just days of returning to the states. He commented he's never seen anyone work so fast. We had no choice...we needed these documents to him prior to Christmas so that they could be translated and our case could be registered with Family Court in Guatemala before year end. It is our hope and prayer that we will be looked upon as an "in process" case when January 1 rolls around. Again, nobody has defined what in process means, so thousands of families are waiting on pins and needles to find out what will happen with their little ones.

We have alot to celebrate this Christmas!

Below is one more video from our 6 hours with Sofi@. Somehow we managed to take over 50 pictures and shoot about 10 videos from our camera (even though she slept a good chunk of the time!).

Lydi@ Goes for a Swim

This, again, is an older photo (probably from last summer) taken while the foster mom and Lydi@ were on a trip.

It's our only picture with her in a bathing suit. We thought it was too cute not to share.

Baby Girl Has a Name

After much thought, we have chosen a name for our second sweet baby girl.

Sofi@

Sofi@ is taken from a Hebrew word meaning "Wise" or "Wisdom."

Lydi@ Looking Ever So Cute

I'm not sure when this was taken. The foster mom returned a disposable camera we had given her and I just got them developed. She takes most of her photos from a bit of a distance. To get a better look at this sweet little peanut, double click on the photo.

I can't wait to bring this girl home!

Baby Girl #2

Here are some pictures of Lydi@'s baby sister.

Because the laws are changing in Guatemala Jan. 1 and adoptions will be shut down for a time (people who are in process--which we are with Lydi@--will be grandfathered. What we don't know is if we will be considered in process with Baby Girl #2 since we just started).

His Eye is on the Sparrow

This is a view from our balcony, a place that provided a wonderful escape amid the stress and difficulty of our week. There were mountains every direction we looked. The sky was bright blue the entire time. The most amazing thing happened every single day sometime around 5 p.m. Birds began chirping so loudly, it was almost like something from a movie. I have never experienced anything like it. This would go on for about an hour. The sound drowned out every other sound that might be heard in the city. Those of you who've been to Latin America know what I mean -- honking, mufflers, car alarms (at any given moment, there are one more of these sounding off) and the like.

Sometime around Day 3 of our trip, when it appeared everything had fallen apart and our dear daughter would not become part of our family, I was sitting on the balcony of our hotel praying. As I looked at the mountains and the vastness of what my eyes beheld, I sensed in my spirit a reminder of scripture...that He has the hairs of my head numbered (i.e. HE knows every detail of my life) and that not even a sparrow falls to the ground without his notice... and Matthew's words "And aren't you much more valuable than they?" More on the sparrows at the end of this entry.

There is so much to tell, but I'd rather not turn this entry into a novel. So I'll be brief.

Ricardo and I went to Guatemala a week ago to try and save our adoption of Lydi@. When we arrived, we were told our attorneys were planning to turn her over to the abandonment court, which meant she would be placed in an orphanage.

We spent 3 days meeting with various attorneys and other individuals to see if there was any way to resolve the issue with our case. By day four, we were looking into orphanages and trying to find a way to make sure she was placed in a private Christian orphanage where she would receive good care.

Just a day before we were to leave, a major breakthrough occurred in our case. We extended our trip for an extra day. I won't share the details in this forum, but suffice it to say God showed up in an AMAZING way and completely resolved the issue with our case. We know that many people were praying, and we believe those prayers had a big impact on what took place. We are awed, humbled, and completely overwhelmed by the goodness and power of God demonstrated on our behalf.

On another note (are you sitting down?) Ricardo and I have decided to start a second adoption. Fernanda (we plan to rename her but haven't come up with a name yet) was born November 21, 2007. This adoption is very risky since a new law has been passed which will take effect Jan. 1, 2008. At that point, adoptions in Guatemala will be shut down, at least for a time if not permanently. What we don't know is if we will be far enough along in the process with Fernanda to be "grandfathered" in under the old law.

Ricardo and I have decided to trust in the sovereignty of God. Not a "whatever will be will be" attitude, but really a posture of knowing that His sovereignty is really His power and goodness exerting His will across the earth. We will trust in His power and goodness, whatever happens in these two situations.

On Sunday afternoon, some friends of Ricardo's picked us up to take us to lunch before bringing us to the airport. As we sat eating, some "Santa" music was playing quietly in the background. Sometime into our lunch, it seemed as though someone turned up the volume, because over the speakers at a much louder volume than all the other songs had been playing, a beautiful rendition of "His Eye is on the Sparrow" came piping through. I looked around, wondering if anyone else noticed that this simple outdoor cafe was essentially playing a hymn. Nobody seemed to notice. I completely lost track of the conversation going on around me as I sat and listened to this ballad, which felt like it was meant especially for me. It was as though God was saying "See, Holli, I do see you and I do know what is going on. And you can trust Me with every aspect of your life."

His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches over me.

We're off to Guatemala

Yesterday Ricardo and I were on the phone all day to various people in Guatemala. We have decided that our chances of getting things straightened out will be greater if we are actually "on the ground" in Guatemala. So, yesterday we decided we needed to go asap. We fly out this Sunday and will stay one week.

Please pray as we come to mind. This week will "make or break" things. We feel called to fight for Lydi@ and do all we can for her until there is absolutely nothing else that can be done. We believe she was meant for our family. We see opposing "forces." Yet, we know Who is ultimately in control and it is He who calls us to join with Him in this battle.

We are still hopeful that this will work out. We are still envisioning a future with Lydi@. But, if things don't work out as we hope, we will know we did all we could. And we will know that we can trust in a God who's ways are beyond our ways, and who is good in right in all He does.

Antigua

Photo of Lydi@ and her foster brother Luis

Several nights ago we made the decision to go down to Guatemala mid-December. I am amazed at how much better I am feeling having made that decision. I think being this far away from Lydi@ has definitely added to the stress and difficulty of everything.

We've had difficulty getting things resolved because some individuals important to our case have been out of the country (Guatemala) for several weeks. They will return next week, which will allow our attorneys to have the meetings necessary to try and understand what the issues are, and hopefully resolve them.

In the meantime, I am beginning to plan and prepare for a 6-8 week stay in Guatemala. Our going, of course, is dependent on how things pan out next week. But for now we are assuming that things are going to work out and we are planning accordingly.

Ricardo will fly down with me and stay through Christmas, and then come home. I will stay with Lydi@ until we are able to bring her home, which we believe will be 6-8 weeks. I will stay in Antigua in an apartment.

In general, Guatemala is a dangerous country, but Antigua, a quaint town that serves as both a tourist attraction and a "home base" for adoptive families, is quite safe. I already have contacts there and have been offered assistance (finding a place to live, finding a Spanish teacher, and even an invitation to a weekly Bible study!). Also, Ricardo has two good friends in Guatemala city who I can call if I need any type of help.

If you're curious about Antigua, here is a link. By the way, I'm open to visitors while there!

http://www.antiguaguatemala.com/