Rude guy at the gym! GRRR!

Ok so this is kinda sorta not related to the adoption, but kind of is at the same time. Let me explain... I started going to the gym (which will remain nameless), was working out 3 days a week consistently, lost inches, was feeling GREAT, more energy, etc.... so one day I get there to work out and dufus trainer guy there (also nameless) says to me, "If you ever feel like you're not seeing results, come see us and we'll help you out." He continues even further to say, "You and I both know the state of your health... you do want to be around to see your son, don't you?" Dude must have some pretty large balls (pardon me) to stand there and think it was okay to say that to me, right?

So it's been about 2 months since I've been back to work out and I desperately need to work out, get back on track and start feeling better physically. Most of the reason I stopped going is because of his comment to me. Also, I came up with this genius excuse that things are too hectic & busy around the holidays. No more! I'm sucking it up and going back. Well, it doesn't matter where I end up working out, either cancelling there and going somewhere else where some dufus won't give me the 3rd degree about my health risks as if he knows all about me.

The bottom line and the goal of getting in better shape... is to be able to keep up with this little one who'll run me ragged so I best get my booty in gear! I need to be in better shape in order to run around with him and not feel stinkin' whooped at the end of the day, right? I don't want to be too tired and worn out, keeping me from doing whatever it is he want to run around and do.... whether it's playing in the yard, swimming, riding bikes, digging in the sand and walking on the beach, chasing squirrels, catching flies, digging up bugs, playing at the park.

God is NOT done with me yet and I believe He desires for me to be the best mother I can be. And, for me, that means getting my booty out there and getting healthier for Connor!
How much more clear can it be? Isaiah 43: 18-21 (NIV) "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. The wild animals honor me, the jackals and the owls, because I provide water in the desert and streams in the wasteland, to give drink to my people, my chosen, the people I formed for myself that they may proclaim my praise."

Anyhow... no "New Years Resolution" for me... just simply desiring to be better, to make it a goal to become healthier. New Years resolutions are good & all, but how often do they last? I don't know... I see them as maybe a temporary motivator?! Maybe I'm completely wrong. I'm sure people make them for the right reasons, but I don't want this to be temporary.. I need a life-changing experience in physical fitness, Lord!

Pre-Approval! YAY!!!

I received an email today that I have Pre-Approval for Connor's visa to be processed. Also this means the next step will be a BIG one -- the case being submitted to the Attorney General's office!! YAY!!!! SOON!!!!!

Christmas without baby Connor :(

It was such a wonderful Christmas!!! It's not even about the presents, but it's soooo absolutely amazing to be blessed with a family who loves me, period. That we spend time together laughing, talking, actin' crazy (haha), goofing around, playing. To know we've got each others' back, yeahhhh!! Also, a side note -- today, Connor turns 4 months old!

I was listening to a new Christmas CD I bought, Steven Curtis Chapman's new christmas CD. Track #4 is the title track called "All I Really Want For Christmas" that talks about a little boy in foster care, only wanting a family for Christmas. Here are the lyrics (I LOVE YOU, CONNOR!!):

Well, I don’t know if you remember me or not
I’m one of the kids they brought in from the home
I was the red-haired boy in an old, green flannel shirt
You may not have seen me, I was standing off alone
I didn’t come and talk to you
‘cause that’s never worked before
And you’ll probably never see this letter, anyway
But just in case there’s something you can do to help me out
I’ll ask you one more time
All I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
A shoulder to cry on if I lose, shoulders to ride on if I win
There’s so much I could ask for, but there’s just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family
Well, I guess I should go ahead and tell you now
If it’s really true about that list you have
Somehow I always seem to end up in a fight
But I’m really trying hard not to be bad
But maybe if I had a brother or a dad to wrestle with
Maybe they could teach me how to get along
And from everything I’ve heard it sounds like the greatest gift on earth
Would be a mom
All I really want for Christmas is someone who’ll be here
To sing me happy birthday for the next 100 years
And it’s okay if they’re not perfect or even if they’re a little broken
That’s all right, ‘cause so am I
Well, I guess I should go, it’s almost time for bed
And maybe next time I write you I’ll be at home
‘Cause all I really want for Christmas is someone to tuck me in
Tell me I’ll never be alone, someone who’s love will never end
Of all that I could ask for, well, there’s just one thing I need
All I really want for Christmas is a family

3 month medical update & pictures!

I got a medical update today. At Connor's 3-month check-up, he weighed in at 11.4lbs and holding steady at 23" long He's doing sooo good!!

Time has flown by in this process and before I know it, I'll be getting that all-anticipated call from my agency saying "Time to go!" And off I'll go to Guatemala to pick up my sweet baby boy.

*note: the pics from 12.14.06 are also his 3 month pictures as this one above is*

Pictures!

NEW pictures of baby Connor are here!!! YAY!!!! Lots of new ones.. here are a few for now :)

New VIDEO!!!!

I got a huge knock at the door this afternoon and it was a nice package from Guatemala -- a new VIDEO of my sweet baby boy!!!! YAY!!! The video was dated 10/6 so it was taped on the same day (pretty much) as his 1-month-old pictures were taken. It was soooo sweet!!!!! And they showed the foster mother, Glades, holding & interacting with him... so adorable! He was laughing & smiling. They said he's very active and a good baby. He's drinking 4oz. formula every 2.5 - 3 hours, which is great!! And get this --- he's pretty much sleeping through the night -- at 1 month old!!!! He only wakes up once during the night for a bottle then goes right back to sleep. I've always known he'd be a good baby!! So that's the news from my world... YAY!! Everything is moving along smoothly and I'll continue to update you all. Love ya. God bless!

DNA results!

The results of the DNA came back 99.99% matched!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I got this email today and my copy should be coming in the mail soon. So this is veryyyy exciting and hopefully SOON my case will enter the Attorney General's office there... long story... but anyhow... this is GOOD!!!! Means that everything is moving along nicely :) Please continue to pray that snags/delays can be avoided during this step.... although I do expect that some delays do occur, I pray that everything will move along as it has been :) God bless!! I love you all!!

E-mail from GR office

Today I got an email newsletter from the national office of Bethany in GR. It's all about the adoption process in Guatemala and the Hague Convention. It's quite a lengthy thing to try to explain here, even I don't think I completely understand all of it, but I thought I'd post this letter that might explain a little bit of how this might affect adoption between Guatemala & the U.S. None of this is to be finalized until sometime (more likely the end of) in 2007, which by that time Connor will be home, God-willing. Love you all & God bless!!

==========================
Our Staff:

Grand Rapids, MI:
Bruce Mossburg
Susan Meyer
Stellita Terpstra
Melissa Gunnink

Guatemala:
Silvia de Marckwordt
Karla Figueroa
Elissa Grochowalski
Diana Chitay Ruiz
Lety Fuentes



Bethany Christian Services International
901 Eastern Ave. NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503




Noticias de Guatemala:
Día de la Madre, 14 de Mayo

Greetings! Hopefully April showers are bringing you May flowers and you are looking forward to new life both in your garden and your family! Here in West Michigan we are experiencing a lot of May showers!

We would like to share this poem with you as adoptive families, adoptees and friends in celebration of recent Mother’s Day:

Legacy of an Adopted Child

Once there were two women who never knew each other.
One you do not remember, the other you call mother.
Two different lives, shaped to make your one...
One became your guiding star, the other became your sun.
The first gave you life and the second taught you to live it.
The first gave you a need for love, and the second was there to give it.
One gave you a nationality, the other gave you a name.
One gave you a seed of talent, the other gave you an aim.
One gave you emotions, the other calmed your fears.
One saw your first sweet smile, the other dried your tears.
One gave you up... that's all she could do.
The other prayed for a child and God led her straight to you.
And now you ask me, through your fears,
the age old question unanswered throughout the years...
Heredity or environment, which are you the product of?
Neither, my darling, neither, just two different kinds of love.
~ Author Unknown ~

The Hague: What it Means for Your Adoption

Recently there has been a lot of talk about something colloquially known as “The Hague.” While there are still more questions than answers, we at Bethany would like to share with you what The Hague can mean for the future of international adoptions in Guatemala and, what The Hague can mean for your Guatemalan adoption.


The Hague (Den Haag) is a town in the Netherlands which is the home of a building known as the Peace Palace. Many important international conventions take place here. In 1993 the Peace Palace hosted a United Nations convention titled “Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.” You can see why it has since been nicknamed “The Hague.”

In 2003, Guatemala signed the treaty that was a result of the convention. The convention and the treaty share the same nickname, “The Hague.” As a result of the signing, international adoptions were stalled. At the time, Guatemala lacked the legal infrastructure to comply with Hague regulations. Several months later the Constitutional Court in Guatemala ruled the treaty unconstitutional and international adoptions resumed. However, Guatemala has not removed its signature from the treaty and is still considered part of it.

The United States intends to ratify The Hague treaty in 2007. Currently, the U.S. State Department is working on implementing Hague regulations in the United States. Since Guatemala has signed the treaty, it is considered part of The Hague and therefore should be in compliance with its regulations. This can mean one of two things for the future of international adoptions between the U.S. and Guatemala: 1) Guatemala will pass Hague compliant changes to the civil code or law regarding international adoptions, or 2) Guatemala will not comply with Hague regulations, and international adoptions between the United States and Guatemala will cease sometime in 2007. The U.S. State Department is asking that Guatemala does comply with Hague regulations by this year.

Bethany and the adoption community believe that Guatemala will comply with Hague regulations, but it could be a difficult transition. There are two documents that might influence an individual family’s case during this time.

1) The I-600A and I-600 are the beginning of the process to obtain a U.S. visa for your internationally adopted child. It is commonly understood that submission of these forms prior to the U.S. implementation of Hague regulations would mean that the family’s case would be processed under pre-Hague USCIS’ international adoption regulations. This would mean that IF Guatemala does not pass Hague compliant changes to the civil code, an American family could still adopt through Guatemala.

2) The power of attorney is the first step in the legal proceedings of an adoption in Guatemala. It is commonly understood that if the power of attorney is registered before any new international adoption laws take effect in Guatemala, the case will be processed under the previous Guatemalan laws regarding international adoptions.

Please keep in mind that submitting the I-600Aor I-600, or registering the power of attorney will not guarantee that a particular case will be processed under a certain set of laws.

The Joint Council on International Children’s Services (JCICS) is offering to work together with interested parties and child welfare experts to draft a recommendation as to what new laws would most benefit the children of Guatemala. On of May 16, JCICS announced that it is forming a taskforce of interested parties in both the U.S. and Guatemala to discuss the changes that The Hague will bring to adoptions between the two countries, and make recommendations on such. Further information can be found on their website listed below.

Please pray for our governments, adoption workers, birthfamilies, children, and adoptive families during this time.

Bethany will continue to give updates as we learn new information on the development of The Hague and its affects on Guatemalan adoptions.



For further information check out these websites:

U.S. Citizen and Immigration Services:
http://www.uscis.gov/graphics/publicaffairs/factsheets/adoption.htm

Joint Council on International Children’s Services:
http://www.jcics.org/Hague.htm