Latest News From The DOS

Not sure where to begin this one. There just doesn't seem to be any good news to tell. We had a conference call yesterday with the DOS, USCIS, some other officials but I can't remember who they were and I don't really care. I'm sick (literally) and tired of being strung along all this time. Basically we were told yesterday that there are 27 cases like ours with the CNA. We are grandfathered cases and the Guatemalan government will process our cases but only after exhausting the possibility of National adoption. In other words, the CNA will try to find a Guatemalan family to adopt Nola first and if they can't find one, then our case can proceed. Thank you US Government for all of your support on that move! When we were told the news, it was very matter of factly, no words of encouragement, no promise to try and encourage the Guatemalan Government to see that these children already have loving homes to come to and there are so many children in their hogars who need families. No, basically, the facts were stated and then they moved on. Not sure what was said during the rest of the call. I was dumbfounded! How can they say we have "grandfathered status" yet make those of us with CNA process under the new law? It makes absolutely no sense! Welcome to the world of International Adoption. When it works, it's wonderful but when it doesn't, it's heart breaking. I'm leaving to head down to my home away from home on the 10th. The judge had scheduled a follow up hearing for the 11th that I will be attending. I'm sure I won't be able to sit in on the hearing but at least the judge will know that I'm there and I may be able to speak with her after. I have a meeting with the Consul General before the hearing and a meeting with the Foreign Ministry the following day. Believe me, this is one momma who is going to plead her case, probably through a lot of tears but..............that's me! I know that it isn't over yet. I know, if it's a part of God's plan, Nola will still come home. I also know this is getting to be almost more than I can take. Please pray. Pray that our little girl is going to have a loving family. Pray that no matter if her home is here with us or with a family in Guatemala that God will watch over her and protect her. Pray that God will give me the strength to get through this next wait cause, wow, it's going to be rough! This is a picture of my new mother's ring. I've always wanted one but could never find one I liked until now. Nola's birthstone is third from the right. It looks black in this picture but it's a Sapphire. She's my baby girl. She will always be my baby girl. Even if she never comes home to live with us she will always be in our hearts.

But I'm still praying "Please God, bring her home to us!"

Laura Story - Blessings My New Favorite Song

Maria's Tangled Castle Birthday Cake

Well, I wasn't sure at first how I was going to accomplish the latest birthday cake wish but after looking at several finished products on line, I came up with my plan. I used an old Wilton separator set that belonged to mom. I'm not sure if it's even made any more but it's the one with the center post that goes up through the tiers. I made a 14" lower cake and a 10" upper. I started with a batch of rice crispie treats to mold the spire for the top of the castle. I let that set while I iced the two cakes.

I iced the roof in butter cream and used fondant cut into little rectangles to make the shingles and fondant for the small spire over the balcony and the balcony wall.

After I had the top decorated, I formed two more batches of rice crispie treats into two halves to make the tower.


I should have let the two halves set longer than I did because the tower kept wanting to slump down as it set. I ended up wrapping a piece of plastic wrap around the tower to make it stay tight and hold where I wanted it.

I iced the tower with butter cream, decorated it with some vines and flowers and it was finished!

Maria was very pleased with the finished product! Although, as I was decorating, she did let me know when I wasn't making it quite like the picture.

She had a wonderful birthday party with all of our family here.

Happy Birthday Little Princess! We love you very much!

Happy Birthday Maria!

I can't believe she's seven years old today!

Oh how she loves sparkles........and crowns........

so what can be better than a sparkling crown!!

Happy birthday sweetheart!

The birthday party (and cake) will be Sunday. I'll post and let you know how

I come up with a Tangled Castle.

It should be interesting;)

Valentine......

.... You Melt My Heart!!

We finally got around to making the melted crayon hearts for valentines day this year. It was really a lot of fun! Maria loved making them........almost as much as Kelsey did;) We got an assembly line going. Maria and I picked colors and pealed crayons while Kelsey cut the crayons into pieces and filled the molds.

The finished product.

These two get along like a couple of battering rams sometimes

but they really do love each other.

Happy Valentines Day!

A Valentine Letter To Nola

The Guatemala 900 has asked each of the waiting families to write a Valentine letter to their little one. They are hoping to bring a new awareness to our struggle. A new valentine will be featured on the Guatemala 900 site each day of February. This is my letter to Nola.

To: Nola

From: Mami

I want you to know, every moment of every day, you're in my heart.

In the morning, before I even open my eyes to see the light, I think of you.

I wonder if you're an early riser or if you love staying snuggled

in your bed until the last possible moment.

Through the day, little things turn my mind to you.

When I'm picking up your sister's toys around the house, I wonder,

do you have a favorite toy you like to play with? or a favorite color or outfit

you like to wear? Do you like to have your hair brushed and fixed or

could you care less about such things?

It's sad that I'm your mami and I don't know the answers.

When the night comes, that's when I think of you most.

When the house is quiet and there are no distractions, I pray for you.

I pray that someone in the hogar holds you close and kisses your little cheek each night.

I pray someone looks into your sparkling eyes and marvels at the

special little girl you are.

I pray that someone loves to hear that little squeal in your laugh

almost as much as I do.

But most of all, I pray that the time comes soon when we can bring you home,

when we can hold you close and never let you go

and make sure you know how very very much you're loved and adored.

We all love you and miss you so much sweetheart

and we won't stop working until you're home where you belong.

Te amo mi hija!

Yet Another Disappointment!

Yesterday we received the long awaited update from the USCIS. There was no information in the update that we didn't already know. I guess it confirmed data. We waiting families are getting to be a pretty close knit group so when someone gets out of PGN, we all know. When someone receives the date for their Embassy appointment, we all know. So to read those statistics in the update, as if they were some sort of revelation, was disappointing to say the least! During our phone conference with Ambassador Jacobs, we were lead to believe we would find out "how many cases could be completed in X amount of time" and "what path those cases would take to completion". There was no mention of any of that.
We were told that the working group in Guatemala is meeting once a week and the Embassy is in close contact with the working group. Well gee, now that makes me feel all warm and cozy!
Maybe, just maybe, there is work going on that isn't being shared. I hope that's the case, otherwise, it looks like what we received in December were more empty promises.

The link to the update: http://adoption.state.gov/guatemala.html