A family united

Our local news tonight featured a family that came home today with their daughter. They have been in the process of adoption since she was born TWO YEARS AGO!! She was stuck in the bureaucracy in Guatemala for two years and she came home on Thanksgiving day!! What a testimony! It showed her grandmother giving her an stuffed elephant (Roll Tide Roll!) and other family members, aunts, uncles, cousins, her brother, and other grandparents. Before they left, the little girl's grandpa prayed over her and their family, giving thanks... I sat here and cried my eyes out.. AT THE NEWS!!

This will be me one day soon.

Thankfulness

We just got Gino's ticket to come visit for Christmas this year. He usually comes for New Year's, but he's taking the week of Christmas this year.. the 19th through the 26th. That's right, a WHOLE WEEK! Plus, he's coming for Flor's birthday!! Oh, but don't you worry, we got refundable tickets in case I get called to Guatemala last minute!! Always be prepared!!

It's nice having a set date to look forward to something. It's a nice change from not knowing when we'll be out of PGN and not knowing when Flor will be home. At least there's one thing now I can say with almost certainty: Gino is coming for Christmas! Yes, I am thankful!!

back in the saddle again!!

We are back in PGN, apparently it they weren't too happy about the address of the home being different than it was when we started the process.... a quick fix!! I also found out that my sweet Caterin got out of PGN today and will hopefully be home by Christmas!!! That is such wonderful news!! She is the little girl that I took to therapy twice a week and the same one that you all helped buy a stroller for!!! Isn't God good!?!? Flor is next!!!

WARNING! Very long post with lots of pictures about my newest pride and joy!!!

So, what does a girl do to pass the time in the YEAR that she's waiting for her little girl to come home?


Well, I'll tell you.

One of the things I wanted in my home before Flor came home was a table. I want us to be able to sit down and eat dinner every night as a family. On a limited budget, I couldn't just go out and buy a dining room set, could I? No. So, I get this idea from something my stepmom and sister-in-law did. MOSAICS!!! And who better to ask for help than the best ceramic tile man in the world: DADDY!

The first step was getting a table. I looked for weeks and weeks at yard sales, online, and in the papar. But no luck. One Sunday, I came home from shopping for a table, when daddy called saying he had found a table at the 400,000,000-ish mile long yard sale from Gadsden to McMinnville. A lady had her stuff on the table to sale when he asked her if she would sale it.

He bought it for $20!!! I had to sand down the table top and legs, and clear a few cobwebs from underneath. Then I had to put it together and bolt the two sections together so it wouldn't shift when being moved. We can't have cracked grout!!

The next step was getting the tile. Luckily, I know a guy who has some tile in storage. ;) I found some colors I liked so I brought them home and broke them up, ruining a towel in the process, and layed them out on the table. Can you believe this was my first design!! I decided to stick with it.

In the meantime, I found these chairs on Craigslist.com, and fell in love. I went just to look at them, and ended up fitting all four in my tiny car that day!! I love the detail on the chair backs and front legs. (those cushions are a different story)

I finally got the stuff to stick the tile to the table, and just needed daddy to come help me grout it. Which happened last Sunday and I went yesterday to buy the paint to finish off the table and the fabric to cover the chairs...

Grouted table.

Covered chairs: I covered each one a different color to match each color tile on the table. Painted legs.

It is amazing how little I spent on this table. I think it turned out perfectly. Just as I imagined it. Now all I need is one little girl to sit here with me!! Oh, y su papa tambien!!

*sigh*

We got a previo. The lawyer hadn't seen the file yet to know what needed to be fixed. But hopefully it will be something simple and we'll get it corrected and back into PGN.

WOOHOO!!!!!

Congrats to Deanna!!!! She got OUT OF PGN TODAY!!!! Auri will be home before you know it!!! We're still praying for Christmas!! Ok, now it's Flor's turn!!

Reasons you should not leave your children with me:

(also known as: Reasons my nephews love me):

1. They get to vacuum my carpet as much as their little hearts desire. Then get a wet rag and actually clean the vacuum itself. (he has a fetish) Oh, the joy of Saturday nights!!

2. They get to eat at McDonald's and play on the playground, even if it's dark and cold. (yes, the playground was outside)

3. If they want me to, I will cut their hair without asking you. Especially if it's touching their ears. But you may come in and catch me in the act and be just fine with it.

To God be the Glory

I may not agree with everything the new president stands for, but I do trust my God. I believe that God has put this man into his position now for His purpose. So, I'm just stating right now that I will do all I can do, which is not complain, but to pray for my new president. I'm not saying I will agree with every decision he makes nor with all the 'changes' that are coming. But I will pray for him, I will trust God, and I will not to say a negative thing about him, as I never said anything about Bush, or would about any president. I just don't believe that's right:

Romans 13:1-5 "1Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. 3For rulers are not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, 4for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. 5Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience."

And that's all I have to say about that.

"Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Wednesday"

Sorry it has taken me so long to update about the meeting.

Lesly seemed to think the meeting went well. The attorney general said we should have our report from the investigation by Monday or Wednesday..(what happened to Tuesday, Deanna??!?) We're praying from approval this week. I don't know what's 'typical', but I know that the God I serve can move mountains! I mean, come on!! He created the world in 6 days, you don't think he can bring a little girl home to her mommy in less than two months!??! Oh, he can!! He will!! And you know what, I will definitely be praising him then, but I'm just going to go ahead and keep praising him in the meantime as well 'cause he's good all the time!!!