Any Fellow Four Leaf Finders Out There?

For as long as I can remember, I have had a knack for finding four leaf clovers. I don't believe they're lucky charms or anything remotely close to that, I just enjoy finding them.

Mark and I decided to go for a walk last night after enjoying some strawberry shortcake; a small attempt at burning the extra calories. I had noticed several four leaf clovers as we were walking. For some reason my eyes are just drawn to them. I had commented to Mark that I had seen several when I looked down and found a whole patch! Not just four leaf ones, but five leaf ones also. Too bad they're not worth anything.

On the adoption front, PGN is finally moving! We heard from our agency that some cases have been released. Most of them had previos, but at least they're getting back on track. We were also told that while Birth Mother interviews were going on, the reviewers were still reviewing cases. That means there is a possibility that our case has made some progress during the time PGN was said to be closed. That was very welcome news! But the best news of all...........We're going for another visit trip!!!!! Mark set aside some of his separation pay to cover another visit and our pick up trip. We're taking Kelsey and Maria with us this time. I know Maria won't be too impressed with visiting another country, but I can't wait to see Kelsey's reaction. It will be a short stay, but my mood has already improved knowing that we'll get to spend some more time with our little Nola. Looking forward to the trip will make the wait for news from PGN much easier to take.

Nola with her snuggly blanket and little princess dress

from Josh and Ali.

Holiday Weekend

We celebrated over the weekend on Sunday. Our group was a little smaller than usual. My sister Geri and her family were in Colorado Springs to be with my nephew Jared who graduated from the Air Force Academy. (WOO HOO JARED!!!!!) What a fantastic accomplishment!
After eating until we all could pop, and sitting around and talking for a while, Anna and Tim were planning to leave when Maria invited herself to leave with them. They were going on to another get together with friends from church and happily allowed Maria to tag along. Our little Maria ended up having the time of her life! Maria has always loved horses and has talked about riding for a very long time. Well, she finally got her wish. Thanks to a very sweet pony named Barney, and very gracious hosts, (Jackie and family) Maria hasn't stopped talking about riding for the past several days! What a joy! Such simple things can bring such delight to children!
No, I'm not planning on buying a horse, but we may have to start visiting Jackie more often.
Thanks Tim and Anna for letting Maria tag along with you, and thanks Josh and Alison for taking the video. What a fun day!


Do I see a jockey in our future?

No End In Sight!

I was going to post yesterday and make it a wordless Wednesday......just pictures, because there is no good news to share. I couldn't make myself do that. Those of you who check in deserve to know exactly what's going on. The truth is, I don't think anyone really knows what's going on. We haven't received word yet that our BM interview has been scheduled. Only one family who has our attorney has had an interview. There is no order as to how the interviews are being scheduled. I wouldn't be surprised if they throw all of the files up in the air and the one that lands on the top is the next one interviewed. (That's kind of nasty, I probably shouldn't have posted that, but I'm way passed worrying about being politically correct) At first we heard that interviews may be conducted in alphabetical order.......that was not correct. Next we heard that interviews would be scheduled by date of PGN admittance......that was not correct. We also heard that cases ready to be approved would be scheduled first.......but that doesn't seem to be proving true either. I would like to hope that the officials in PGN have some sort of order in mind, but it sure isn't anything that is obvious to our agency. The longer the process goes, the more rumors start flying. I'm just going to have to stop reading the adoption forums. There is certainly no good news to be gleaned from them. The latest post in the Miami Herald is that 15 adoption cases have been annulled, and only 145 Birth Mother interviews have been completed. If that's true, and interviews have been happening since the first part of May, I don't think PGN will be finished with the interviews by the end of May like they stated earlier in the month. At this rate they may not be finished by the end of next May! And if 10% of the cases are annulled, that is a very scary percentage. There's no way of knowing if that report is true, but that's the kind of thing that's out there to read. There is certainly nothing positive about Guatemalan adoptions in the press right now.

I only know one thing for sure; we have a beautiful little girl down there waiting for us to bring her home. She is only one of thousands who have families hoping and praying that this political mess will end soon.

Please continue to join us in praying. There has to be some good news soon!

My Tiny Dancers!

Last Friday and Saturday were dance recital days for the Lane girls. Kelsey is a veteran now but this was Maria's first recital. I was really worried about how the whole thing would go, but fortunately, it was fantastic! Kelsey did a beautiful job as always. This was her first year to try ballet. She suffered through the bloody toes and very sore feet, but she says that she will probably take another class next year. Maria wants to take ballet too, but I really think if I get her an outfit like Kelsey's, and sew some ribbons to her dance shoes, she'll be more than happy.

Kelsey and her ballet class (beautiful girls)

Tying up her toe shoes

My Mothers Day Picture from Maria

Maria's class. They did such an awesome job!

There is no adoption news. We are still waiting to hear news of the birth mother interview being scheduled. So far, none of the families who have our lawyer have posted that they have received an appointment for an interview either. I'm more than ready for some good news on that front. Here's one of our favorite visit trip pics. Please keep all of the waiting children (and families) in your prayers.

Momma misses you baby!

We're Home!

The time went by much too fast! And I have finally stopped crying. I didn't think the tears would ever stop after handing our little Nola back to the foster mom, but I think getting on that plane to leave the country was just about as bad. I am soooo glad we went, but leaving was unbelievably difficult.

We had some delusional thoughts of coming home to some good news on the adoption front but they were just that......delusional! We heard from our agency today not to expect to hear any update on our case for 8 to 12 weeks. With all of the changes in PGN, the newly appointed officials want to double check everything including interviewing all of the birth mothers again. There are between 2500 and 3000 cases in PGN right now that, we are told ,are going to be reviewed again from the beginning. PGN officials have stated this will take one month, but our agency is being realistic and estimating 8 to 12 weeks. Not the uplifting news I was looking for, but the news we got just the same.

We are joining families who have designated this Friday as prayer day for the children in Guatemala. Please join us in praying for a quick resolution to the latest delays in the process and an end to the political turmoil that is keeping so many children from being united with their forever families.

Bye for now!

Finally!!!

Well, after coming near pulling my hair out over trying to get pictures to download I have finally mastered this thing. Actually mastered is a very strong term, I should probably say I am bowing down to this technical wonder.

We had a wonderful dinner last night with our foster family and an interpreter. The food was delicious and it was so nice to get to spend time with the people who are taking care of our little Nola.

Nola´s still not feeling real well. She has a cough and a runny nose that won´t quit. Two nights in a row she has slept all night (Woo Hoo for us). I know that will probably change shortly after we get to bring her home, but I´m loving it now! She´s not sitting up alone yet, but she rolls all over the place and is trying to push up on her knees. She is just a doll baby! She has her mommy and daddy both smitten.

Just after waking from her first nap with us!

Nola and daddy chillin´in the room


This one is not my favorite smiling picture, but the only smile I can get to load.

Hugs and kisses to everyone at home. We miss you all very much!

Kisses from Nola!