YES.....WE'RE STILL ALIVE AND KICKIN'

We've been without Internet services for over two weeks now. Talk about a struggle! That's rough for someone like me who is constantly searching the net for someone who has some good news to share about their adoption. After several days, I finally started believing I could survive without my blog fix, and it's true, I can! I just don't want to. We have a temporary fix in some very slow dial up so until something quicker comes along, I won't be posting. It takes an insane amount of time to wait for sites to load and I just don't have that kind of time to waste.
In family news, two weeks ago we moved my mother-in-law out of our house and into an assisted living apartment. PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!!!!! (oops, did I seem a little too happy about that?)....................................(that's because I am!) I love my mother-in-law, but she is the most negative minded person I think I've ever been around in my life. You know, one of those people who always has something hurting, is constantly moaning about something or just generally negative. After a while, that begins to grate on a persons nerves. She lived with us for about two years and even though I felt kind of guilty when we left her in her new apartment, I am so glad to have my house (my home) back!
In adoption news, there's not much. Our judge is back in her office and we think she has received the report she asked for from the PGN. Our lawyer says he expects the judge to rule on our case "within the next several weeks". Knowing that time doesn't mean a lot to some people in Central American Countries, I'm sure not going to hold my breath for "the next several weeks" but at least we have something to hope and pray for. Tomorrow will be four months since Nola was taken from her foster family and we have had absolutely no word on her well being. Not knowing has been the hardest part of this whole situation. Please continue to pray that someone is loving and caring for Nola in the hogar. I'm praying the judge rules in our favor soon and allows Nola to go back to her foster family until the day she gets to come home to us.

Even though I'm dealing with some very slow dial-up, when we get some good news, believe me, I'll find the time to share!

Wow, Have I Been A Slacker Or What?

I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted. I've actually started several posts and just haven't finished them. Such a busy time lately and when I wasn't busy, I just wasn't in a typing mood. The holidays were so hard with no news of Nola but there were lots of happenings in the Lane household.

We'll start off with Maria's Gotcha Day. December 5th was our four year anniversary. It's hard to believe four years have passed! We threw tradition out the window this year. No traditional Guatemalan food. Maria wanted pizza and pink cake with pink icing so her wish was granted..... and thoroughly enjoyed!

The next picture is of Mark and I just before we left for our first night of our church Christmas Concert. Our Choir worked on this Cantata since September and performed it on Friday and Sunday night the weekend before Christmas. There were several difficult pieces but everyone worked very hard and it turned out beautifully! Doesn't my hubby look handsome in his black suit? (don't know why I don't have any shoes on.............oh well)

Now on to a sweet yummy Saturday of fun, Christmas candy making day. Alison and I (and Maria, of course) made Christmas candy the Saturday before Christmas. It was a very full day that actually spilled over into the following afternoon. Everything turned out great with the exception of my toffee. It took three ruined batches before I finally got it right but the final product was really tasty!



What a bunch of candy!!!


There are more pictures of Christmas morning than anyone
wants to look at but here are a few.
The scene before the unwrapping began.

Kelsey and Maria patiently waiting for everyone else to get up
and me to get the video camera on.

Maria decided a couple of months ago she's going to be a farmer when she grows up. She assigned jobs to all of us but her main concern was having a "pink" tractor to drive. Santa took care of that problem for now.

No one can accuse the Lane family of being party poopers. New Years Eve was a "Rockin" time in our living room. Josh and Alison brought over their Guitar Hero and we all got in on the action. Talk about fun! The highlight of the evening might have been Kyle's lyrical rendition of "Jam And Toast"................"on the wheat bread" (you really had to be there).

We all had a blast!

Ok, I'm quitting for now. I've got you all pretty well caught up. Here's wishing everyone a very Happy New Year!

We're praying the new year brings good news for all of the children in Guatemala waiting to be united with their forever families! Please continue to pray with us.