6.8 Earthquate?

A little over two hours ago Guatemala was rocked by a 6.8 earthquake. They said it was pretty bad. Those of us living in the adoption world right now are gathering information. Here's what I've found out so far.

1) Yes, pretty bad - even felt in California
2) Location about 70 miles off the pacific shore of Guatemala city
3) Some homes damaged, may have people missing, torrential rains, no reports of after effects
4) Folks in Antiuga are fine
5) Folks in Guatemala city felt it pretty bad, lots of shaing, but all are okay

My immediate thoughts are "Where are my children?" I have always just assumed that they are somewhere close to guatemala city. Let's hope so. I have asked my translator to call the foster family, but she is not optimistic that the lines will be up. we'll see.

Second thought, if the center was off the coast - in the ocean.....tsunami? So far, they are saying that is not likely.

Please join me in prayer.

It's really happening!

Ohmigoodness! Such a long time in waiting and now I think it's really gonna happen! I mean, seriously. I think I'm really leaving on Thursday! How can I be in shock (for so long it just didn't happen), excitement (for so long, we've been waiting for it to happen) and just a wee bit of nervousness and fear (what in the world have we gotten ourselves into!!) Two running little dynomoes!! ;-) How are we ever going to learn how they work!?! ;-)

We are just SOOO excited. Mason graduates tomorrow at 3pm! We are extremely proud of him. I will try and post pictures before i leave, but we just have so much going on...(argh!!)

More good news: We have new birth certificates!!! We were scheduled to get new passports today!!! (Yippee!!!) and we should be submitted to the US EMBASSY tomorrow (Tuesday)!! That means we could get pink by the end of the week!! (Whoohee!!!)

That pink slip will tell us when our appointment is for our visa!!! (and ultimately when we get to come home).

I'm gonna be a mommy!!! (Right now, Evan and Mason call me "Donna" and at 10 and 13 years old, they were too old for me to change their diapers! I do consider myself their Mom (one of two)...

........but in two days I get to be "Mama!!!! Mom! Mommy! Ma! Mummy! Mumzie! You get the gist....

Yay!!! Yippee!!! Ohmigosh - I haven't even packed yet!!!

Homesick

My Brilliant, Computer-literate, Soon-to-be-High School Graduating Son, Mason helped me add my favorite song to the blog.

The band: Mercy Me
The song: Homesick
About: Being separated too soon from someone you love (and not knowing when you'll see them again)
Me: Usually crying, this is just such a beautiful song that sums up exactly how I have felt this past year, homesick.

(It will stop on its own or you can pause it to stop playing.)

"....And at least a thousand times I've rejoiced for you
But the reason why I'm broken, the reason why I cry
Is how long must I wait to be with you

I close my eyes and I see your face

If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

Help me Lord cause I don't understand your ways
The reason why I wonder if I'll ever know
But, even if you showed me, the hurt would be the same
Cause I'm still here so far away from home.

I close my eyes and I see your face
If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
I've never been more homesick than now

In Christ, there are no goodbyes
And in Christ, there is no end
So I'll hold onto Jesus with all that I have
To see you again
To see you again

And I close my eyes and I see your face If home's where my heart is then I'm out of place
Lord, won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow
Won't you give me strength to make it through somehow

I've never been more homesick than now"

If home is where my heart is, then I'm out of place.....

For my heart has been with Austin and Logan for the past year....

Home...

Home, to me, will be having them in my arms, together, again, at last, and forever....

After being Out of Place for so long, we are so close to being Home!

Yes I know...bad blogger...;-)

I know it has been awhile since my last update....the thing is, I've just been "waiting" (I swear once we're home I am banning that word from my vocabulary!) to hear something from Guatemala.

The new birth certificates were supposed to have been picked up Monday or Tuesday, but I have not heard anything yet. Then, another few days to translate all documents and our lawyer is hoping to submit us to the embassy Monday, June 11th. So, hopefully, next week we will know when out Visa appointment is.

Right now, everything is still a go for my departure June 14th. please pray that this actually happens. I am trying very hard to allow God's plan to work out, not just mine. If I have learned anything this past year it is that His timing ultimately needs to take place, not mine. ;-)

I have sent the lawyer an e-mail asking her to see if the foster parents would join me for two nights at the hotel. We would get adjoining rooms and we would spend those two days transitioning care over to me. I could observe how they soothe the children, if and how they discipline them at all, feedings, etc. I think this will greatly help me so that I do not have to "wing it" so much. And overall, it will help the boys if I can at least meet their needs in a manner familiar to them. I also would imagine their little hearts might transition better over two days as opposed to a 20 minute "hand-off." Please pray that this works out according to God's plan, too!

After that I will head to Antigua, where we have booked a room here:

http://www.quintadelasflores.com/

Looks like heaven, doesn't it!! There, we will wait until they tell us we can come home.

Last, I know that you all are awesome prayer warriors for us, so I humbly request for your general prayers as the next several days will bring us:

- The arrival of Gary's parents from Maine on Saturday for Mason's graduation
- The arrival on Monday of Mason and Evan's older brother, Blake and their mother, Lisa
- Mason's graduation on Tuesday (yippee!!)
- Final exams for Evan in the midst of visiting family and Mason's graduation
- Word of our new birth certificates
- Admittance to the US Embassy for pink
- Receival of Pink informing us of our Visa appointment
- And my departure (at last!) on Thursday, June 14th!

Swoo, I'm tired already just typing all that! Oh - and did I mention re-packing? I had just finished unpacking from not going in May! ;-) But that's a problem I don't mind having!!!

Thanks for still being on the journey with us!

One year ago today....

Austin and Logan were born into our hearts. We received the call at 4:45pm on a Friday afternoon. We saw their picture, this picture about an hour later. And in that one moment, our hearts swelled with unimaginable pride and love for these two little angels half way across the world.

Thus, we began our journey. Our heart's journey.

A journey of love, of joy, of patience, and at times a journey of fight. It's been a journey of Faith and of perseverance. And a journey of unimaginable heartbreak - of missed milestones, of "firsts" that were reached without us, of too many good-byes.

If we knew then, what we know now, would we have done it?

Yes!

Yes!

Yes!!!

How long is too long to wait for them? Until we don't have to wait anymore. Until they are in our arms forever. And a new journey begins...

A journey of love, of joy, of patience, and at times a journey of fight. It will be a journey of Faith and of perseverance. And a journey of unimageable heartbreak, I'm sure!

We are so grateful. We are so blessed.

365 down, 12 more to go!!!