What a wonderful night!!

I can't say that I slept well last night, but it was the best night of sleep ever. I shared half of a full size bed with the sweetest little girl! (Not that we didn't have a whole bed to sleep in, but she was snuggled up to me the whole time) It was seriously the sweetest thing I've ever experienced. It was so funny, I would close my eyes for a minute, open them a few minutes later, and she would be staring at me, with the biggest smile. Every few minutes, she would say, "Moma" and put her arm around my neck. After she turned over and over abooooooouuuut.... 27 times, she settled in, started playing with my hair, and dosed off. She sleeps pretty wild, told me "SHHHHH!" at one point, and hit my arm (all while sleeping)...

(She's coloring with Stephanie right now, singing the Barney song.. in Spanish of course... so sweet)

DAY ONE!!

Connie dropped Stephanie and I off at the airport EARLY this morning. But we were already laughing and having a good time then! There were several times we laughed so hard that we cried! It was such a great trip down and I'm so glad that Stephanie was able to be there with me.

This was our official drop off moment. Steve left her with me and I would never have to leave her again! I was so excited and a nervous wreck!! But Flor was such an angel! She never once cried. She just hugged Papa Steve and kissed him good-bye and turned to me. What a precious memory.
We went to eat dinner at Pollo Campero. I had to introduce Stephanie to the imfamous restaurant that we all loved. Plus, I was sure craving it after a year and a half being away!!
An old friend, Amy Spencer, let us stay in her casita while she was visiting her home in the States. What a blessing!! Not having to pay hotel expenses every night saved us a bundle!! I was so thankful to her.

Abby

Please read the latest update on Abby and pray, pray, pray... then ask someone else to pray. pray, pray!!! Pray for healing for her little body. Pray for no more pain and discomfort. Pray for strength for her and her family. Pray for a miracle!!! http://www.riggsfamilyblog.com/

three sleeps!!!!

I bought our tickets yesterday... then I cancelled them and bought some more... LOL.. We're trying to make this as difficult as possible.. :-/ Not really, but instead of flying out of Nashville, we found some tickets out of Huntsville for even cheaper, we'll just have an extra leg of flight in there somewhere. It was a crazy night, but now it's done and we're on our way early Monday morning and coming back Friday night!! I feel a little overwhelmed with everything falling into place, all the details, but I have One who sees all, provides where I am needing, and is strong when I am lacking. He knows how much I need that now. One of my favorite songs by Jennifer Knapp basically says it doesn't matter how much I try and fail, how great my short comings are, how much I try to do it, or figure it out myself.... HE IS FAITHFUL!!!
I am praying today that every does fall into place as needed. Not just for the trip, getting ready, and bringing her home; but also for after she's here. I want to rest in Him, and soak up and enjoy every second of the next week... and the weeks, months, and years to come! My flesh gets in my way ALOT. It is a daily, minute by minute at times, struggle to give it back to Him... again and again.

Thank you, God, for your faithfulness, and mercy, and grace... and love.

PINK!

We're PINK!!!!

I got the email today that I've been waiting on!! Our appointment is for next Wednesday morning!! I haven't bought any tickets yet, but we'll probably be coming home next weekend... hopefully the 13th... !!!!!!!!AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Thank you, JESUS!!!!

I'll post later with more details...

No news today.

Well, it didn't matter how much pink we wore today, the email didn't come. I was really, really wanting to get that email today... as hard as I try not to get my hopes up, I somehow do. I kind of feel a little sick to my stomach now. I guess that's the disappointment, but I truly feel nauseated. I know that it doesn't have to make sense to me. I know that God is in total control. He already knew I wouldn't hear from the Embassy today. Why do I even TRY to guess when it'll be..?!?

It has to be soon. It has to be. I miss my little girl.

Please continue to pray that the timing will work out for every detail and every person involved.

think PINK!!

I am really hoping I get THE email tomorrow...

If you think about it, could you say a little prayer that I get it? I'm just so ready to hear from the Embassy, and KNOW the dates to buy my tickets, and be on my way!! It is time!!!

Today, in honor (and hope) of being PINK this week, I bought the sweetest little table for Flor. I've been wanting a little wooden table and chairs for us to have tea parties. I didn't want plastic, I wanted wood. But I hadn't found one cheap enough, not that I was looking all that hard anyway. But today, I just happened to be wandering around TJMaxx after church and I saw a cute little table sitting there. It was PINK... hmm... The paint was peeling off the corners and bubbling up in the middle, so I checked the price, sure enough... clearance!!! $5.00!!! SOLD! I'm going to peel the rest of the paint off and decoupage something on it, or do something really great to it... we'll just see how inspired I get! I will post before and after pictures when I'm done! :)

Thank you, Bill!!!

My friend was in Guatemala this week and just 'happened' to run into a little person that we all will recognize...

Just think... it won't be long at all until I am holding her in my arms!!! FOREVER!!!

Here she is studying a picture I sent down of all of my family that we took at Christmas...

... and that priceless smile...

Bill also sent me an email with a little video, which just made me cry because it shows Flor running to Mama Shyrel to point me out to her in the picture!! You can here her say, "Amanda" while she's pointing to the bottom right of the picture (which of course is where I am!) :)

She loves her mommy!!

Birth Certificate!!!!

I missed a call from Guatemala today, and when I called back Shyrel answered!! She said that she had Flor's new birth certificate!! !!!!!!! !!! !!!!! ! She said she would take it to get her new passport on Wednesday morning and my lawyer would be able to take it to the Embassy that afternoon even! So, I may hear from the Embassy about my appointment as early as Friday!! Of course, the appointment will be able a week out, so I'm thinking maybe sometime the week of the February 9th??!? It could happen!!!! I have been shaking ever since. My heart is racing. I feel like my mind is working 90 to nothing, but my body can't keep up!! How exciting!!!

Shyrel told me that the other kids at ADN started school this week, and that Flor came up to her out of nowhere and said, "Yo voy a estudiar con Amanda." !!!!! Shyrel told her that she surely was!!! She said she thinks that she really understands what is going on, and what's about to happen... you know, as much as a 4-year-old can. I am so thankful!!!

So, be expecting more good news from me later this week!!!

He must be carrying me now.

These past few weeks have been a little overwhelming. I feel like I have so many "balls in the air". There have been some things that have come in out of no where and taken me so off guard, almost knocked me off my feet. Worrying about details that I can't control anyway. Concerned about details that may not matter. Wanting to figure it all out before I get there. I want a road map that shows me before hand which way I'm going to take and where it is I'll end up. I want to see the puzzle box lid, so I can know that I know that I know that I'm putting the right pieces together. I want it laid out in front of me, so it won't take any kind of faith at all. I just want to hear God say, follow me this way, then pull the rope tied around my waist, so I don't have to make any decisions or do any work.

As you're reading this, you're thinking the same thing I am: that's just not how it works. Listening to Pastor Rusty this morning brought back to mind an old lesson that God showed me several years ago. He said this morning, "We would love to take the easy way out, but God didn’t promise us the easy way, but he did promise us he would take us through… and that means we will come out the other side. ...He is faithful and true."

In Luke 8:22, Jesus gets in the boat and says, "Let us cross to the other side of the lake." That alone should have given the disciples faith. He said it, it was as if it was already done. In March of 2007, God said to me, "This is your daughter which I have given you, Flor de Maria." And in truth, that has many, many times given me the strength to keep going, because God spoke it to me. Do you know that His Word is His Promise? But just as the disciples, when even the littlest storm comes along and shakes my boat, I panic. I try to take control of the situation, and I'd "like to figure out now please, if you don't mind, okay? thanks." I rush to wake him up, screaming, "WHAT AM I GOING TO DO??! HOW AM I GOING TO DO THIS!?" Then there he goes, sitting up ever so calmly, he rubs the sleepy from his eyes, and says, "Oh ye of little faith.." And my heart sinks. And every time I am brought back to his promises. I am reminded of how much he loves me, how much he loves Flor. You want to know the best verse of this story to me? Verse 26, "They landed in the region of the Gerasenes, which is just across the lake from Galilee." Do you hear that? Whadda ya know... He kept his word. They crossed the lake. Want to know something else? I HAVE A DAUGHTER!! She will be a Tomlin on paper soon, just as she always has been in my heart. And although she is not in my arms forever yet, she will be in just a few short weeks and God's work is not finished yet.

He didn't promise this road would be easy. But he did promise he'd be with me. He can calm my storms and hopefully I will learn the invaluable lessons he is trying to show me through them. Once again I realize I am only clay in his hands and he is molding me to become the mother that Flor needs to guide her in the direction HE has for her. That is a crazy huge, but amazingly awesome responsibility. My only hope is that He will be with me the entire time. We are on the other side of the lake, but there are more miracles in store.

I feel like I have a lot of turns and decisions and things coming up soon. I feel like nothing is settled (like I said, lots of balls in the air) and I would really appreciate your prayers for peace and discernment, knowing what direction God would have me to go, leaning on Him alone for that direction, and trusting that He will see me (us) through to the other side.