2 years ago today

Two years man that just sounds so weird. Two years ago, we left the good ole United States out in quest to see my beautiful son. For my mother to meet her handsome grandson and the girls to meet there brother. A child that they too had prayed for for many years. A child that they loved. A child that they knew but, merely through photos and stories from mommy and daddy.

I'll never forget that faithful day. This time we opted to fly with America Airlines (since there were so many and the rate was a little bit less). A thing that will NEVER happen again. That story is for another day. :) Okay, well some for now because it goes with my today memory. :) The phone rings a little after midnight (scared me because our phone NEVER rings that late) I of course was still up getting the final things ready. Michael was helping me pack the van. Our plane was due to take off a little after 6am in Nashville. So, with us being 2 hours away we need to be up and out of the house around 2:30-3:00am. Dad and Mom were going to meet us here and then we would all load up and head out. Back to the phone call it was American Airlines (UGH) saying that the flight was going to be 4 to 5 hours late. I was like SERIOUSLY..we are the 1st ones out!!!! We are going down to meet my son. We are suppose to be getting him that afternoon. We DO NOT have a place to stay at in GC we have a place..a person picking us up and taking us to our rental home in Antigua. We are SUPPOSE to be meeting our house cleaning lady to get the key. WHAT???? SERIOUSLY?!?!?! You might be thinking I was just saying this all in my head sadly enough I was saying A LOT of it to this lady. Ooops. :) After the call I buzzed mom who btw was still up to give her this info. I tried to calm down. I got on the computer started looking up the number to the Radisson so, I could see if they had a room for the night. Thankfully, they did. I tried to rest for just a little bit. Mind you our flight was going to be taking off NOW between 10-11am. and we are still 2 hours away from the airport. UGH!!!! So, we needed to head out early enough to get there for "whatever" time we were due to fly out and I still needed to get in contact with my agency and say that we COULD NOT get Joshua (even now that extra day still tugs at my heart)that day and then get in contact with Mario here in Chicago to let him know to cancel both our meeting with the cleaning lady and our driver. He had to know that we would not arrive in GC until late that evening (unlike the suppose to be early afternoon). Man, oh man was I ever tired when we finally left to go to the airport. :)

Later we arrived in Nashville. Michael and Dad parked up close enough to get our bags out and watch us check in. Many hugs and tears were shed then too. I had never been gone away from my hubby for that long and of course, mom had NEVER been away from dad and NEVER in a million years did I think I would be traveling to a 3rd world country with ONLY my mother and daughters in tow.

During our whole adoption process God taught me a lot about the person he has created in me. A person whom without the finances to do an adoption would come up with the money. A person who DID NOT fly would indeed fly if need be across the world for her little boy and that same person would again board a flight on a totally different route (1st time Nashville to Houston..2nd Nashville to Miami)with an eager grandmother and 2 very eager sisters and stay in a country for 3 wks. barely speaking the language, living in a house that she didn't even know where it was and roaming the streets like she knew where she was going. Again, with an eager grandmother, 2 very eager sisters and the most beautiful Guatemalan baby boy. This person wasn't ME as I could NEVER do something like this it was JESUS and we were but, all following HIS direction.

Even though the day didn't start out like I would have planned it that's the way God wanted it and you know what I wouldn't change it for anything because looking back HE taught me.

A picture of our VERY tired and inside extremely eager grandma and 2 sisters at the airport in Guatemala city. Man, I guess this is what you look like after a looooong day with 6 checked bags (2 of which were for Joshua and 1 full of food for us), 3 carryons (again, 1 of those for sweet boy) and an exersaucer. :) Notice how I took the picture and NOT my mother. :)



Even though gifts were purchased and money was to be given the girls wanted to give something special to Maria Luisa just from them. So, prior to leaving we purchased a little bracelet making kit and they made a special gift for her.



The end result a beautiful bracelet with her name on it.



Tomorrow the real fun begins as through the many tears and huge smiles Joshua is welcomed into not only my arms but, those of his family. Man, 2 years later the day is still so real. The tears continue to swell up, the butterflies are still fluttering and the heart well it is just enormous.

Well, take care friends. As always NEVER quit praying. Tomorrow I will post about those special weeks with Joshua.

Smart Boy

Tonight mom and dad came by for one of there visits. Actually, it was the second one of the day. As always dad asks Joshua "Do you want to go home with papaw"? and his normal response is "NO"!!! Well, this evening when that same question was asked Joshua said, "Uh huh..YAY..papaw's house". We all looked stunned. Then I asked, "Joshua do you want to go home with Nunney and papaw"? Again, he said, "Uh huh..YAY..Papaw's house"!!! So, after a quick "sink" bath, lotion and quick brush of his sweet teeth he was headed out the door.

Here's a pic. of my sweet baby heading out with his grandparents. For some strange reason Joshua is a little blurry..oh well.



The ONLY difference between this time and all the other times is the fact that I am VERY hormonal (good news shot has been moved up to tomorrow). So, the reason for the title being SMART BOY and not 1st night away from home is because when my little boy found a way out he was SMART and took it. :) In all seriousness I'm sure he is having a great time with his grandparents. They LOVE him bunches and he does them also. It is just funny that his 1st time was during my hard time. In my head I just laugh thinking about Joshua thinking YES..I'll stay with you..ANYTHING to get away from this lady. :)

I do hope this little story has brought a smile to someones face. Thinking about Joshua's little mind indeed has made me smile and I must admit that I'm happy I AM!!!

Take care everybody. As always lets keep praying for Geovany, Lauren, Ben and the other children waiting to be united with there FOREVER families.

Still learning that God takes care of even the smallest things..

Today was going to be the day that I FINALLY completed Joshua's "at home" paperwork. For those that may not know what I am talking about I am referring to a KY. birth certificate. Since, we visited Joshua in the great state of KY. there was no need in doing a readoption. Oh, and YES I also double checked with an adoption attorney here and they verified the same thing. However, in such and oh so nice voice he did tell me that he could do the leg work aka..name change and new bc for me for of course a nice fee. Well, after the cost of bringing our son home we opted for ME doing it.

So, again the day had come. I was gathering all of my needed documents such as his protocolo, front page copy of our home study (showing that yes, we did or do live in KY.), new bc (showing us as his parents), Michael and I's bc and finally either Joshua's passport or COC (certificate of citizenship). As I quickly gathered our documents I found several to be missing!!!! Such as our bc's (wasn't to worried about that one) and Joshua's passport and COC. For those of you that don't know me really well to put it honestly I started freaking out. I called Michael at work several times (thankfully he DID NOT answer) because I just KNEW that he had lost it. After all there is NO way in this world I could have done something like that!!! :) My mind was going 90 to nothing. I was crying, angry and all the above. I started thinking in my head WHAT IF somebody out there started to challenge our adoption (this WILL NOT happen) I had NO passport or COC. I must admit that I sure did give the devil a huge gaping whole to jump into and man, did he ever start to take control of my mind. After allowing myself to go in my own words nutso for about 30 min. I stopped and just prayed. I knew that God knew where those important papers were.

Finally, after finishing up going through our filing cabinet (like a million times), drawers, cabinets (YES, sometimes I do throw things in odd places), our china hutch and everywhere else I stopped and looked at the nightstand beside our bed. I told myself it would NEVER be there I opened it up and boom there it was. I stared at it and then dropped on my bed in tears. I THANKED GOD a hundred times over. I THANKED HIM for directing me to this drawer, I THANKED HIM yet again for coming to my rescue. As I stood in the shower weeping I continued to be in awe of my LORD.

Yes, indeed friends God is with us ALWAYS and he takes care of even the smallest of details. To us sometimes they may seem BIG but, to HIM I truly believe that they are just little pathways leading us back to the bigger picture which is HIM!!!! Even as I type this I am still THANKING GOD!!!!

Oh and in case your wondering...YES I am going to by a special "adoption" book today and that will be where ALL my papers will remain and YES organizing is on the top of my list. After my little man wakes up from his nap we are heading out to send off his much needed documents so, that he can get a KY. bc.!!!

2 years ago today....

Joshua was placed in my arms for the VERY first time. It seems like it was only yesterday when we nervously flew to Guatemala. This might be long so bare with me as I must go back to that all important day.

Boarding the VERY small plane in Nashville @ 6:35am my stomach was turning flips. Scared of not only the little plane but, the thought of traveling somewhere else..traveling out of my comfort zone. To a place I didn't know anything about to a child that I still questioned what type of love it was I had. Was it that true die for you in a moment kind or the I feel sorry for him love???? As our plane landed in Houston we quickly gathered our baggage together to check in for our next flight..the flight that unbeknownest to me would change me FOREVER. As we landed in Guatemala my eyes were opened to more that I could have imagined. The people begging, those out selling, the openness of the airport, our very limited Spanish could not help us. We waited and waited for our shuttle to pick us up and take us to the Radisson. While waiting a very nice older lady asked if we could buy some gum for her as her children are starving and she needs money. After purchasing it we quickly learned to keep more to ourselves as tons of people starting coming over. About 20 mins had passed and there was our ride. He had already been once and picked up several passengers and then came back for us he apologized what seemed to be a million times. We loaded up and then our journey continued. I remember being scared a few times as we drove the streets in Guatemala city. I had NEVER seen anything like it before. We arrived and waited.

We were due to meet our fostermom, translator and son around 4:30pm. We arrived to the lobby about 30 min. early and helped another nervous mommy put together her excersaucer she had brought for her little girl. Time continued to trickle by and the knots (I can even feel them now) began to grow even larger. By this time our driver who would take us to the El Palacio De Dona Beatriz in Antigua had arrived. He very kindly said that he would wait for us. The young ladies foster mother and translator arrived and I saw at that moment complete and utter joy in her face. They talked for a bit and headed out. By this time it was around 5pm. and the nerves let me say were going crazy. I kept telling Michael what if we don't get our little boy today...the tears began to stream again. Then someone from the front desk called my name and said I had a phone call. I quickly ran to the phone to find it was my translator. She explained that she had a flat tire and was wondering IF we could wait a little bit longer. I quickly said, "YES"!! I mean SERIOUSLY did she think we would just leave...uhhh NO. About 15-20 min. later walked in my foster mother caring the most precious baby in the world. At that time I knew (crying now as I type this) the LOVE I had for this child was not for sorrow but, for TRUE LOVE..the kind of LOVE that you would die for your child in a moments notice. The kind of LOVE that makes your heart skip a beat..that unending LOVE!!!! On that particular day my heart had just given birth to the most beautiful 3 1/2 mth old, 12 lb. baby in the world. My heart was FULL again, I was 100% IN LOVE!!!!!!! We asked our questions, watched the tears flow from our foster moms face, gave our gifts and headed out on what would be the greatest adventure of our lives.

We spent the next several days getting to know our little boy and explored his country. During that time we learned that he indeed was a Mr. Spaghetti legs, that he LOVED to be held (which was a okay with me), his sweet eyes would water when you headed out with him and those same eyes could melt any heart and his body was simply perfect. Bath times with Joshua were amazing...YES, I took baths with my baby!!!! We also learned that 1) tuk tuks (a golf cart looking thing) even though many people used them they were not the means of transportation for us. When we rode in those things Joshua's little head would bobble back and forth...all I could think of was baby shacking head syndrome..2) Guatemalan people LOVED seeing there babies covered up. I can't tell you how many times Joshua had a hat or a blanket thrown over him. So, after the 1st day out we learned to purchase a hat and have a blankie on us at all times..oh did I tell you the weather there is GORGEOUS..3)The food and shopping were fabulous and probably the MOST important thing I learned was...BANOS (bathroom) kind of a handy thing to know.

Even through all of our many great times sadness would consume me on many of those days. My heart knew that soon I would have to give him back...hand him over to a lady that I didn't know...I could literally feel my heart breaking into millions of pieces. He was MY SON how in the world could I do this. I remember like it was yesterday calling my mother and crying not just crying but, bawling my eyes out. Again, he WAS MY BABY...I would NEVER leave my other children so, how could I leave him????

The day had come for us to say our goodbyes 5/9/07. I tried to be as upbeat as possible but, my heart was crushing. I had prayed through the whole trip for PEACE. A PEACE that can only come from my father up above. A PEACE that I thought for sure would not be answered. Our driver packed up our bags and we headed to our final destination. Here at the Radisson we would give our son back, go to bed and then leave bright and early the next morning for our trip home. We were due to meet our foster mother that day @ 4:30pm. While we were upstairs waiting to go down (which I assumed she would be late..hey, they were last time why not today) we dressed Joshua up in his other many outfits that didn't get used on that trip and took tons of pics of him in them. I then dressed him in our favorite outfit. He wore a little white onesie and over that was his one piece green frog outfit with green and white checkers and a little green jacket. As Michael video taped Joshua for what would be our last 30 min. with him the phone rang. He proceeded to answer and she was there. I remember thinking NO..PLEASE GOD NO!!!!!!! How could she be sooo early??? I grabbed Joshua up in my arms and began to cry..my heart was literally tearing into. Michael grabbed the bags of clothes and toys for our foster mom. We headed to the elevator as it began to go down I clutched my baby with all my might. The doors opened and there she was. We walked off the elevator and I was crying. In my mind I had pictured her taking him from my arms and vanishing off. Instead, she politely walked me over to the couch and began to talk. I asked Michael to go and get a translator. Within minutes of us talking God had began to dry my face. The lady who I thought would take my son and run was the lady that comforted me. The lady that wiped my tears, hugged me...she was my PEACE!!!! Each and every time I think about that special time my tears flow. On that day she just wasn't my foster mom she became a vital piece of my life...she became Maria Luisa. After talking for about an hour Maria Luisa presented me with a present. Unbeknownest to myself or Michael Mothers Day in Guatemala was tomorrow. She gave me a purse with a card inside of it. She told me, "You are HIS Mother...HAPPY MOTHERS DAY". We ended with a very special picture, some great hugs and kisses. By the grace of God in that moment I handed over my child to my friend, kissed his head for the very last time, walked with them out to a cab and waved goodbye. Not a tear was even in my eye. Again, God had granted me PEACE through this AMAZING LADY!!! We headed back upstairs to call the kids and my parent and then headed out to dinner. The next morning we left our sons country and headed back to ours.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Even though 2 years have passed reliving those days still brings me to my knees and yes even though he is home a little piece of my heart still hurts. The days after coming home I cried out in pain to my heavenly father and he answered me each and every time with the face of my new friend Maria Luisa.

As always please join me in praying Geovany, Lauren and all the other children still caught up in the adoption process FOREVER HOME!! They like Joshua deserve to be hugged, kissed and tucked into bed each and every night. Also, please pray that soon Guatemala will reopen there doors so, many more children can find there way HOME!!!!

New Toy

Friday morning Joshua and I headed out to the mall to meet Nunny (as Joshua calls her) aka grandma to do a little shopping. Kortney got a few summer clothes, Joshua some little extras (daddy thinks he may grow out of his 18mth. shorts before our vacation in either Oct. or Dec. after all he is up to 26-27 pds. now..woohoo). After a crazy day at the mall then some good lunch from Chic Fil A. We headed out to the toy store. We were ONLY going to purchase another train but, after staying in there for a few minutes, Nunny with us (mind you she had coupons) and a quick call to daddy we walked out with a wooden Thomas the train set (which included 3 trains), a Percy train and some bubbles. To back you up a little bit about 2 months ago we bought Joshua his 1st Thomas book from there well you could say the rest is history. :) Nunny and papaw saw how much he LOVED the book (mind you he had it ONLY 2 days) and just new that there sweet grandson NEEDED a motorized Thomas the train set. So, he started with 2 and a track, then it got to 4 and batteries oh my!!!!! He was going through over a pack a week. Now, that can get to be expensive. So, we bought him a couple wooden ones and bam that's how we got to Friday. He has played with that new train set NONSTOP!!!! I mean SERIOUSLY NONSTOP!!!! Joshua now naps with a few of them, wakes in the morning hollering THOMAS..THOMAS, puts them to bed when he goes down at night and again just LOVES them. When we 1st brought his set home he sooo desperately wanted someone to play with him but, then was soooo torn up when they did. His sweet sister Madison sat on the sidelines for about 15min. (mind you she would pester him during that time to the point of screaming but, hey) after that amount of time he was ready to share. Oh, and the ONLY complaint I have with the set is that silly bridge. I can't tell you how many times Joshua would holler, "FIX IT...FIX IT..FIX the BRIDGE!!!!" Oh, good grief. That problem has been solved with some wood glue now the bridge will NEVER come off.

I do hope you enjoy pics of my sweet boy and his NEW BEST FRIEND!!!!! :) Oh, and just to let you know we will be celebrating a VERY special anniversary here tomorrow. I'm hoping to blog about it then. YES..2 posts in a week. :)

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Happy Easter

My LORD has RISEN!!!!! PRAISE HIS HOLY NAME!!!!!



Everytime I think about what Jesus did for ME on that cross this wonderful song comes to my mind. He's ALIVE...He's ALIVE...He's ALIVE and I'm FORGIVEN Heaven's Gates are OPENED wide He's ALIVE!!!!!!!!

I am a sinner saved ONLY by God's grace. A sinner yet sooooo undeserving but so grateful.

Brotherly and Sisterly Looooooove

Don't those pictures just MELT your heart!!! The only thing that could make that even more COMPLETE would be if Joshua's other big sister Kortney was in it. Oh, how I miss not having her here. Thankfully, she will be home tomorrow!!!!

I do hope that everyone is having a TERRIFIC Arctic Spring Break. :) Actually, it hasn't been that bad. The 1st 2 days it was in the 30's..YUCK and now it is SLOWLY creeping into the low 60's but, as with EVERY Spring Breach more rain is fore casted. Oh well, THANKFULLY on the dreary days I have the smiley faces looking at me.