Day Two, Part Two

So, after we left the first house, I just had to go visit some familiar faces at house #2. Flor hung out beside me on the couch. She didn't let me get too far from her. It took Danny a minute to remember me, but as soon as I heard him say my name, I knew he knew me! He's so special to me. He was knocking on death's door a few years back. I rushed him to a hospital, where he was miraculously healed (the doctor's own words!!) I love his little laugh!

Flor maybe got a little jealous and kept telling the other kids that I was hers. They would scream my name and she would say, "Es MIA!!" I can't lie. I loved it!

Rebeka is so sweet. She thought it was hilarious that I took this picture of her eating a lime. Her and her brother have the best smiles ever!
I got to help Flor out with her bath time. It was comical to say the least. Just her facial expressions were priceless enough.

Day Two

Flor and one of her friends enjoy hanging out a little while on Thursday. Melodie and I snuck away from the cleaning and packing to play with our girls a bit.

I don't think you can tell from the picture, but little Adriana has a new leg!! Shyrel said that the doctors told her that it would take her at least 2 months to get used to her prosthetic leg, but in just 2 short weeks she's already walking on it!! How amazing is that!?!? I mean, I'm really not surprised considering that last year before her little foot was removed, Adriana learned to walk on one knee and her foot. Which was pretty amazing to see. She is such a bright little girl! I can see so much confidence in her since she has the freedom this prosthetic leg brings to her. She is such a fighter, I think. She just hangs in there and deals with what she's got. I mean, can you imagine only having one leg? God must be pouring out His grace all over her!!



Don't you just love the way she looks at me...

Fernanda and her mommy got some snuggle time too!! Fernanda was so funny with Melodie. She would walk away from her saying, "Adios!", walk over to the wall, cut up her eyes, and run back into her arms!



I love this picture of Fernanda!



I love this little friendship and I think it's so great that they will still be able to play together since they will leave so close! I can see them being friends for a long time!!

Day One

This is the face I see as I walked out of the airport! As soon as she saw me, I could read her lips, "MOMA!" My heart just melted and tears filled my eyes! Shyrel had brought her there as a surprise! We stopped off for lunch at Pollo Campero before heading the see the rest of the kids. Let me tell you, Flor sure can down some food.. and lots of it!



Bill and Melodie were supposed to arrive 2 hours later, but instead arrived about 10 minutes before us! Even after 2 cancelled flights! It was such a special moment to witness them meeting their daughter for the first time!

Here are a few more pics from my first day with mija (my daughter):

MAIL TIME!!

Another great trip to the mailbox today!! I got the documents I sent to the Consulate back today!! Seven documents ready to take with me to Guate!!

I really can't believe that I'll be holding Flor in less than 6 days!! I love her so much more than I did when I left in July. How is that possible?!? I mean, really?!?

Those same great friends of mine brought me some beautiful patio furniture today and an amazing solid wood bookshelf. Unbelievably, I had been "window shopping" for patio furniture for a few weeks now since the weather has been getting warmer. I also have a suitcase full of books in a closet and a box full of my music books... Tell me that isn't God!!

Relay for Life

Hey guys,

For those of you who may not have gotten an email from me before, my sisters and I go the Relay for Life every year... well, I haven't in two years because I didn't live here. BUT anyway, we're doing the Relay in Hazel Green this year and I'm accepting donations for our team The Fighting Firefighters (fighting for a cure). :) Of course, my sister is the team leader and she is a firefighter. So that explains that. But if you'd be interested in supporting us click here and is should take you to my page. We'd really appreciate it.

God bless!!

8 more sleeps....

Well, first of all Flor's nanny bought her Enchanted. I hope Flor doesn't mind that I watch it tonight since she's not here yet. :)

Second, Shyrel wrote me and said that Flor knows I am coming and that she's so excited!! She said that every time she goes over there she asked Shyrel, "And my Moma?"







Can this be any more irresistable:

Build_A-Bear

I got some really cute stuff on clearance today for Flor. It's so fun finding good buys on things that I need. ALSO, I went by the Build-A-Bear store today and got Flor a bear. I bought a little voice recorder and brought it home tonight. I recorded her a little message and if you push the palm of the bear it will play the message for her... how cute is that?!?!

My God loves me!

God just keeps out-doing Himself...

Last week, Thursday, I got a call from some friends of mine asking if they could come over for a minute. It was so unexpected and I was thrilled they were coming.

When I got home I got an email back from the courier in Miami telling me that they total for her services this time: $75, plus the $70 for the Consulate fees. Ok, so $145 total. Not so bad. I thought I could handle that. I had a few thoughts about all the expenses adding up lately and what was coming up, even this next week... paying the second half of the home study fees, my trip to see Flor, etc. But God has proven to me numerous times that He will provide what I need when I need it. Without exception.

So, when they walk in my house, he reaches his hands out to give me some money. I glanced and saw several twenties. I teared up as I told them how I had just read this email about the courier and consulate's fees... After telling them how much it will be total, then he even teared up, saying, "Well, that's $200." PRAISE GOD!!!

Isn't God the coolest?!?

Matthew 6:25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t there more to life than food and more to the body than clothing? 6:26 Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? 6:27 And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? 6:28 Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. 6:29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! 6:30 And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith? 6:31 So then, don’t worry saying, ‘What will we eat?’ or ‘What will we drink?’ or ‘What will we wear?’ 6:32 For the unconverted pursue these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 6:33 But above all pursue his kingdom and righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 6:34 So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own.

ATTENTION: I'm moving... again!!!

I'm in the process of "moving" my blog to this site, I think. I've been having a lot of trouble on the Clay In His Hands site... I don't know if any of you have experienced it, or if it's just me. Could be, but it's really bothering me, so anyhoo... for awhile I'll be trying to post in both until I get this one up to date.

I think it'll be fun to go back and read some older posts anyway!!! I wonder how far back I'll go?!?

The world may never know!

I'll call it a slight incline...

So...

I got the documents back from the State Department today. I'm still waiting to hear back from the courier about fees and I'll be ready to send it to the Guatemalan Consulate. I'm hoping I can get it there and back before I go to Guate on the 26th. It's only 7 documents, but it's a start, right? It's so funny how every "step" in this process is such a huge one! I was so excited to see that package in the mailbox that I RAN back to my apartment because I couldn't WAIT to get it open!! I felt silly, but I just couldn't help it!

Are we there yet??

Guess how many sleeps I have left before I go see this pretty girl...

21!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My I-600A application is on it's way!!

I sent off my I-600A today. My social worker had told me to wait until she sent my home study to DHR, so she did... so I did!! Amanda's lunch break today went as follows:*scarf down a bowl of spaghetti*go to the bank to get TWO cashier's checks- (make sure they got your new checks ordered with the right address, oh wait, they didn't, so get that corrected)*pay*go to the post office and hold up the line with no idea of what type of envelope to use*dig through the briefcase looking for the two addresses*remember a return address, stamped envelope goes in one package*pay*rush back to work to work up the first patients. But I feel so accomplished.

It is sent!!

I have some great news!! My home study was sent to DHR today!! I just found out after lunch today. I'll be tracking it online...It could take 4 to 6 weeks to be approved there and then sent directly to Immigration. I have to send off my I-600A ASAP, and when they get the approved home study from DHR, I will get an appointment to get fingerprinted and it may take 6 to 12 weeks to get approved there. That's what I'm waiting on to send ALL of the paperwork to Guatemala to get started down there. Although, I'm actually trying to get some of the dossier ready to take with me when I go at the end of this month. We'll see how that goes!! PRAY! PRAY! PRAY!!I am one step closer to you baby girl!!