Things are moving!

Samantha's BC is done, her passport is issued and her DNA has been authorized! This is one of the few times, we love to see charges on our credit card!

We can't believe that in a few short days, we'll be visiting the beautiful country of Guatemala and snuggling and loving our new baby girl! Her foster family has invited us to a birthday party on Saturday at their home for Samantha's foster mom. Please pray for us as we step way out of our comfort zone and go experience life as Samantha's known it for 10 months. We're excited, but very nervous.

Had to share the newest pictures of our adorable daughter. May they put a smile on your face today.

Blessings,


Amy

Col 2:5 -- For though I am far away from you, my heart is with you.

Pro 15:13 -- A glad heart makes a happy face

A Mixco BC!

We received news from our agency today that our attorney picked up our Mixco BC! We are one very big step closer to bringing our little girl home. Now we wait for the results of a second DNA test and then wait for a visa appointment with the embassy in Guatemala City.

On another note, Rob and I decided to take a quick trip to visit our Guatemalan princess. We leave Friday afternoon and return Monday afternoon. We'll have Samanth all day Saturday and Sunday, and Monday morning. We're taking Christmas gifts for her and her foster family. When we booked it, we didn't know that our birth certificate had been issued. It won't be easy to hand her back to her foster family, but this time we know we'll be back very soon to bring her home FOREVER!

Thanks for your continued prayers.

Blessings,
Amy

Habakkuk 2:3 - But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.

Medical Update

Samantha saw the doctor on Dec 5th. She is now 17 lb 9 oz, length 70.5 cm (27 3/4 in). Doctor comments: healthy, curious, smiley, babbles, 2 syllable words, has slight cough, crawls! We are more than ready to have her home! Praying that Mixco releases her birth certificate and lets our daughter go!



Our love,


Amy

Giving Thanks

I've mentioned before that we are blessed with a wonderful foster family. Although Thanksgiving is not a Guatemalan holiday, on Thanksgiving Day, they prepared a special meal and had an evening of giving thanks with Samantha. Yesterday evening, we received pictures of their special celebration. Enjoy!

Blessings,
Amy

Waiting

Why is waiting so hard? We've been out of PGN for almost 4 weeks and there has been no movement on our case. Samantha is now 10 months old, and we haven't seen new pictures in too long! We're waiting for Mixco (the little town Samantha was born in) to issue a new birth certificate listing us as her parents. Rumors are flying as to why it's taking so long. I won't speculate on that, since I really don't know. I think we'd feel better if we were seeing some movement, but we haven't seen anyone recently who has received a birth certificate from this little town. Is there comfort in knowing we're not alone in this?

I read some challenging and encouraging things in my Bible study today. I'm studying the minor prophets. The title for this week is Habakkuk - Following God in the Low Places of Life. (You really think that applies?!?) Anyway, the quote for today is..."Pride is reflected in our unwillingness to trust God with what we don't understand. It is always distinguished by a lack of faith - we have to try and fix things ourselves since we refuse to trust God...Habakkuk had this problem, and God's response to him was pretty blunt. Verse twenty of chapter 2 literally reads Hush before Him." Psalm 46:10 runs through my head, even as I type this...Cease striving and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted among the earth.

We miss our little one so much. It's not at all like being pregnant and waiting for a delivery. At least when you're pregnant, you carry your little one with you and you have some sense of when it will be completed. We have no sense of that right now. We could have a birth certificate tomorrow, or not for another 6 weeks. We don't know, but God does. I'll leave you with this thought...FAITH - Forsaking All I Trust Him. Day-by-day, moment-by-moment, I forsake my way and trust His way; I forsake my agenda and take His agenda; I surrender my opinion and trust His word. As I do that, I walk in faithfulness.

We'll keep you posted...

Blessings,
Amy