I’ll start with the downs.  The guy we’ve been pirating internet from in the apartment is AWOL and my stomach is in a precarious state.  This means that everyone and their Mom has been attempting to ply me with various home remedies which is very kind but also extremely annoying.  Yesterday I ended up yelling “I’m NEVER going to eat again so leave me alone”.  I said this in English and then left the room for my husband to translate.  Such good manners I have!  No one was deterred by my outburst though, this morning Carmen proposed rubbing holy oil on my stomach.

I am currently hiding out from aforementioned home remedies in the internet cafe across the street.

The good news is that it looks like the court process is going “very well” to quote the very non-specific description of our facilitator.  Yesterday we received word that the we had been assigned a court and that the judge had formally accepted all of our documentation as being in order.  This is a great relief considering all the drama we had with our delayed FBI clearances. Apparently the judge accepting the documentation is the slowest part of the process.  The next step is for our file to be sent back to Bienestar where the Family Defender will do a final review of our case.  Then she will send it back for the judge to give us Sentencia.  Everyone is demurring on an actual timeline but in our experience Bienestar has been very good about turning stuff around quickly so hopefully we are good to go soon for Sentencia.

And now that I’m done complaining, I’ll give you what really want!

Elian's been learning to sit on the stool by himself. I personally love this activity because it means he sits still for a whole 2 minutes at a time!

Sleeping Baby=Overwhelming Cuteness

Wrangling the wild beast!

Hey before I forget, if you are new and visiting from Melinda’s blog.  Welcome!

Ever since we got our referral in last September our life has been crazy.  CRAZY I TELL YOU.  It has been joyful and strange and very, very stressful.  I usually try not to go into a lot of detail of what it’s like to do the adoption because it’s like taking bad college class.  Lots of vocabulary and busy work.   A lot of hassle, a lot bureacracy, a lot of getting your fingerprints done, a lot of waiting.  Today on Melinda’s blog I detail the multitude of steps you take after getting a referral. There have been a lot of hard moments in the adoption process but having to wait these last three months knowing our little boy is out there in the world growing and changing without us has been terribly difficult.  If you’ve wondered why I have been on the edge of a nervous breakdown since last September, this post might help paint a much clearer picture.

Colombian Kids Blog

To all parties involved with our adoption:

This may be surprising news to you but our child does not stop growing while you all slowly process our forms and give us what we need to travel to get him.  In the time since he’s been assigned to us he’s actually grown quite a bit.  He’s taken his first steps and said his first words. Since September I have gone to bed at night approximately 50 times thinking about my son and wishing we could be with him to share more of his early days.  Everyday I go to work and try to concentrate, I have to say that is not going well for me.

I have been fingerprinted 4 times, taken psychological tests and filled out stacks and stacks of paperwork.  I am so  over all of this. Frankly I am surprised that people just don’t kidnap children instead.  It seems like an easier path.

Right now you have the opportunity to hustle and get us to Colombia before the courts close for a month.  You have the opportunity to give us the gift of spending Christmas and New Year with our child.  You have the opportunity to prevent us from having to wait another 3 months to travel to get him.

Please I am begging you COME THROUGH FOR ME JUST THIS ONE TIME!

Sincerely, Me

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. -Lamentations 3:22-23

I love Bridget Jones’ Diaries which some people think is weird since I met Arnold when I was 19 and was married by 22 leaving me little time for singleton adventures.   But I don’t love her for her because I identify with her, I love her for her resiliency.  I love how she shakes off each subsequent disaster, tell herself “inner poise” and gets up to face each new day with renewed energy.

Bridget deals with cruel break-ups and out-of-control parents but real life is even worse than the movies. Real life is death, tragedy, disappointment and heartbreak.   There have been days during the adoption process that have been terrible.  And there were days that led up to our decision to adopt that were much worse.  But every morning, no matter how bad it was the night before we got up and shook off the sadness.  I thought of Lamentations over and over again “they are new every morning”.   I did my best to set my mind on God’s goodness and used my frail faith to ask Him to get us through it all.  And everyday I saw God’s love and compassion, in my husband, in my friends, in my family and even in a silly little puppy that brought joy to my life during a hard time.  There were so many days I thought I would be consumed if not for the grace of God.

Everyday now we are closer and closer to Elian and my heart is so full I feel sometimes that I’ll burst with joy.  I’m so grateful to each of you who encouraged us and accompanied us on this journey.  Thank you so much to each of your who were bearers of God’s grace which is new every morning.

Dear US Immigration,

I appreciate everything you’ve done for me so far.  Your customary service has been exemplary, except for that one time when you told me to contact you if I hadn’t heard from you within the next 365 DAYS and then when I called the number assigned on the 366th day it was out of service.  I totally forgave you for that after you approved our adoption App in less then a month.  (Big ups to the Hague Unit)

But I have to be honest with you, I’m starting to think you are a Gold Digger.  You ain’t messin with no broke, broke.  I’m starting to feel you buyin lipo with my money. I shoulda got that insured Geico for my monaaaaaaaaaaay.

I know that we can’t break up.  We’re meant to be together forever.  I need your approvals to bring my loved ones here and you need my money to keep on functioning but let’s be real and honest from now on.  Let’s not tell me things cost one thing only to send me another unexpected “Fee” for $400.  It’s all getting to be a little uh, excessive. Let’s just say from the beginning “This will cost you $1000 because it always does in the end, doesn’t it?  Doesn’t IT? -Deep breath here-  Repentant stare on your behalf.

Okay, I feel like we’ve communicated now.  I’m ready to make up.  Please feel free to send me an expedited visa for my Mother-In-Law, you can send it to me at:

Super Happy Camper, Sacramento, CA