Our first meeting with Anne Pearce!

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I know I look like a blubbering idiot!!

Just a normal Wednesday!

Nothing much is going on today. I just hung around the house. I'm not near as depressed as I have been. I have definitely turned the corner! My dear friend Lisa called me yesterday and sang me the song "I just called to say I love you...". It was so sweet. Everyone has been fabulous in cheering me up. My online friend, Carolyn, sent me the sweetest email today. She went on a visit trip to see her baby, Olivia, so she knows just how I feel. Her daughter is PRECIOUS by the way. You can just see personality in her pictures. Carolyn and I have corresponded since she was in the process of adopting Olivia. It has been wonderful to have her. She even emailed me all the tricks to getting through the Guatemala City airport. Thanks Carolyn!

My youngest son can also tell that Mama has been in the dumps. He has responded with plenty of hugs and kisses. That is the best medicine in the entire world. God is so good to give me 3 such beautiful and wonderful children.

I got to talk to an old friend today. Sara and I have known each other for years, and we went to grad school together. She said that she checks my blog first thing every morning. It feels wonderful knowing we have the support from people all over the place. Thank you ,Sara!

Tomorrow I am going shopping at the outlets with my friend, Karen. I am always on the lookout for cute things for AP even though she doesn't really need anything. After her web cam performance I am kinda tempted to get her some blue jeans. Her aunt Lisa will probably have a fit!!!! That baby could wear a paper bag and be beautiful.

I feel so blessed to be mama to Logan, Hayden, and Anne Pearce. They all touch my life in many different and wonderful ways. God is so good to loan us our children. He is the ultimate parent. He has endless love and support for us. We are never alone, and we can never do anything that will make him not love us. It's the best feeling in the world to know that my Heavenly Father is here with me and my children always. No matter how frustrated or impatient I get He has a perfect plan for our entire family. I believe He will give Anne Pearce a miracle in PGN and bring her home to all of us who are waiting for her. Today Carolyn told me that peace will come, and I believe her. God will give us all peace.

Love to you all,

Lou

3rd post of the day.....My friend, Gina

My friend Gina lives in Louisiana and is adopting a baby girl from Guatemala. Long story short....we have never met in person, but we are great friends. She has been on the waiting list at our agency for a girl for what seems like forever. She is the next family on the list to get a referral. The family ahead of her is requesting TWO unrelated siblings, and then it will be her turn. We found out today that our agency got a girl referral yesterday! That means one more baby, and then it's Gina's turn. I know all of you praying for me and AP have some room to pray for Gina and her baby, Mary Archer. Gina suffered through years of infertility, and this baby really means the world to her. Let's pray this baby home too! God is so good, and we all know He has perfect timing. I am so glad for Gina that she is THIS close to meeting her daughter. I can remember being in the spot she's in now.

Adoption is such an adventure! I have met so many wonderful people through this process, and I truly believe that God has given us each roles in each other's lives. Isn't that amazing? All these people, some strangers, who "know" all of us through this blog? Think of all the people who pray for us. I know the internet can bring some not so good things, but in my opinion, it has added such joy to my life through the people God had led me to. My "adoption friends" are so precious to me. I am also so thankful for the people who have supported me all along this journey. My heart feels so happy. Thank you God!!!!!!! I love you!!!!!!!!

I always like to post ANY good news......

I got an email from our attorney via our agency that said the court is giving us the date for our interview tomorrow. He said he will email us the date tomorrow. It is probably one day next week. At this interview Anne Pearce's birthmother will have so see her. Please pray that she will have peace. I don't worry about AP, but I know it will be very difficult for her birthmother. Can you imagine having to make the decision she is making? I learned a little about our birthmother from our foster mother. She wanted to make sure that our FM knew how much she loved and cared about Anne Pearce. She is so poor she can barely feed the children she has. Let's pray for her and her other 2 daughters in Guatemala. She is definitely making the unselfish decision, and she wants a better life for Anne Pearce. I know sometimes in international adoption people don't really stop and think where these babies come from. Every one of them has a mother who carried them under their hearts for 9 months. Every one of them has had to make a heart wrenching decision in order for their children to have a future. These women deserve our love and respect. While Anne Pearce was growing under her heart she was growing IN mine. I thank God everyday for Anne Pearce, her birthmother, and her foster mother. All 3 of us play such a huge roll in her young life. I can feel everyone's prayers for all of us, and I thank you so much. Let's keep praying this baby home. I am posting a picture of Anne Pearce with her foster mom, Jacqueline. She is providing wonderful care for her until we can.

By the way, we got to see AP on the web cam today. She had on a pink and white striped Ralph Lauren onesie that we left there with catch this............BLUE JEANS embroidered with flowers!! Those of you who know me know that I won't let her wear blue jeans until she's 2, but I have to admit that she was precious!! She was also trying to eat the headphones!!!! 4 weeks and counting until we get back to her!! Let's all keep praying this baby home!!!!

Today is a better day!

I think I was in a mini-depression yesterday. Today is more bright! I have to realize that all this is out of my control, but God can handle it for me. I know that He is. Anne Pearce is with a wonderful family, and although I wish I were caring for her myself, this is such a comfort. Like my friend Lisa said last night.....in a couple of weeks we will be in full swing getting ready for the next trip. I'll just keep going every 4-6 weeks until she comes home. God has sent money for us to travel so far, and I know if it's His will the money will continue to come. He is so good to us. I do miss my baby girl, but this is part of the process.......God never promised that doing His will would be easy. It's difficult now, but I know that this will all fade away once we have her home for good. In the meantime I have a wonderful husband and 2 wonderful boys to focus my attention on. I have also been blessed with SO MANY fabulous friends. No one gets tired of listening to me moan and groan......I love you all. Thank you to everyone who helped me get through yesterday! What did I ever do to deserve all of you??

Lou

Waiting for Anne Pearce is so hard.

I know that I am always so postive and filled with hope on my blog. Honestly, this adoption is about to push me over the edge. It's so difficult having a baby that is so far away. It's not good to compare other people's timelines, but I do. Anne Pearce is almost 4 months old, and we are still waiting on her Family Court interview. We trust God and that He will bring her home in his perfect timing. However, we are still human and have human emotions. Today I am filled with jealousy, anxiety, and an aching for my daughter. Please pray for me to have strength. I still have a wonderful husband and 2 great boys to take care of. They can't handle me falling apart. My precious friend, Daisy, gave me this verse:

"May the God of hope full you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 5:13.

I am praying for joy and peace,
Lou

Nothing much going on today.

We did book Andrew's flight for the next trip. I'm so happy that he's going. I felt so guilty about going to see her without him. He's going to fly in Friday and leave Monday afternoon. That will atleast give him 2 full days with her. We're so ready now. I don't know how I will ever make it 5 weeks. Logan has a big school trip coming up, and Hayden has some school projects due. They will keep me busy! We were supposed to go have our family picture taken for the church directory tonight, but we just couldn't do it. I know it probably sounds stupid, but a family picture isn't complete without Anne Pearce. All of us felt that way. The waiting is so hard. It doesn't seem like it's only been 1 week since we gave her back. I don't worry about her with Jacqueline Carolina, but I miss her so much. I know you all know how I feel. Andrew's missing her like crazy too. I have to bring myself to wash her clothes from the trip. I've hated to, because they still smell like her. I'll have to keep one thing out to sniff! I have just about sniffed one to pieces! It's losing her scent.

God is so good to us! The money for Andrew's ticket just showed up! God has already planned this all out, and we just didn't know it! God has blessed us so much, and we are so thankful to Him. I know He is hearing all our prayers.

Love to all,

Lou

Family Court Interview Next Week!

I thank God everytime we have some movement in our case. It felt like we accepted her referral, and then nothing happened for the longest. Now we are moving!! Our foster mom informed me today that she takes Anne Pearce to the court next Tuesday or Wednesday. Then the social worker will write a report. We should be getting pre-approval any day now from the US Embassy. Once these 2 steps are completed we will be able to move into the final court (PGN). Family Court usually takes about a month, but it can take as long as 2 months. I don't believe it will with everyone who is praying for AP. I got to "talk" to her on the phone for a few minutes today. Jacqueline said she started smiling when she heard my voice.

I am heading back to Guatemala on March 2-9! I cannot wait. AP's godmother, Karen, is coming from the 5th-9th. Andrew is thinking about flying down for the weekend with me. I pray that he does!! I know he would love to see her too. We are all so excited. I'm actually going to venture outside the Marriott this time. We are going to Antigua and to our foster mother's for a Guatemalan "feast". I feel so honored that they are welcoming me into their family. They are very loving people! Let's all thank God that Anne Pearce has them. I also pray for Jacqueline and her entire family. Giving our daughter up will be very difficult for them all.

Everyone comments on my wonderful blogging friends. I have never met some of you, but you are such a part of my life. I thank God for the love and support you continuously give me.

I feel like I'm always telling ya'll thanks, but I mean it: THANKS!

Lou

We got an email from our foster mother!

We were thrilled. I won't always post the emails, but I want you all to have the opportunity to get to know her as we have. We are so blessed to have her taking care of Anne Pearce for us.

Email follows:

Hello Lou!

I hope that you be great and full of blessing.

Don´t worry you daughter is very fine she is sorround of love and we care so much for Ane (karen), i be so gratefull for this wonderful detail taht you have for my, be in touch whit my because i know people that was adopted childs and they never write but I be so gratefull whit God because you are in our lifes you are a very special people and you take part of my family now.

In this moment Ane (karen) is wonderful she is eating very well and she is use the diapers, she is playing all the time whit the baby sit fisher price but is a little small for Ane (Karen) because is a big girl she start to scream and my son Josue say karen is my princess wend Karen come the last week he is so happy the time wend karen be whit you my son was so sad because he say Karen is my little sisterI talk whit Ane (Karen) abouth you I say you have a beatiful mommy and a cute brothers. and a beatifull daddy.

I so grateful for you invite to go to USA if God want that i can go because the situation here for travel to USA is hard, and I invite to you the next time that you come to Guatemala you can be in my home because in this way you can know how lives Ane (Karen) whit my and my family.

I thankful that you ask what i want but i fell shame ask something if you want give me something i will be so thankful for the detail and this will be the most wonderful present of my life.

God bless you and you allways be in my prayers and Ane (karen) loves so much

Sorry for don´t write very soon because here the internet is very expensive.

whit love and blessing.
Carolina Bol de Sandoval and Family.

Not nearly as interesting now that we're home!

I find now that we're home I don't have near as much to blog! I need everybody to pray really hard for us. This has been a very difficult week. We miss the baby so much, and we have some things going on in our family. We need everyone's prayers! I am still waiting to hear from Anne Pearce's foster mom. Somehow our emails aren't making it to each other. Our translator is trying to work it out. I am about to die to hear how AP has been since we left. I am ready to be back on a plane now.

AP's godmother, and one of my best friends, Lisa, has asked that we all pray specifically that Anne Pearce gets out of Family Court on Feb.2. She said this date just came to her. I'm all for that! I know God will hear all of our prayers and bring her home soon. We really pray for April! I think I'm going to go to Guatemala again the first or second week of March. We have been looking at airfares and rates for that time. Then hopefully she'll be home soon after that visit.

Thank you all for continuing to raise us up in prayer.....it works!

Blessings,
Lou

Hello from home.

We just want to let everyone know that we are home and doing ok. We miss the baby terribly, but overall I would say we're doing much better than I thought we would. God is definitely giving us strength and peace. I credit all of you praying with much of this. We could feel your endless love and prayers, and we still do. Anne Pearce is a blessed little girl to have so many people who love her.

I can't wait for you all to meet her. She has the sweetest little spirit. You can just feel the goodness coming from her. I know she will do great things one day. I feel that she is already giving people faith and inspiration. Anne Pearce is surely a work of the Lord. His hand and presence are all around her. Andrew and I are so blessed that He chose US to be her parents! The boys are so ready to see her, Logan especially. He seems to have really bonded with her. He is the proud big brother carrying her picture around in his wallet.

Being back at church today really lifted my spirits. It's always good to see our friends. We received plenty of welcome home hugs today. After church we went and had lunch with my family. We shared moments of our visit. It felt good to be home. Daisy brought our little friend Maggie over to see us this afternoon. She gave me kisses for every day that we had been gone. She definitely cheered me up. God sent us wonderful friends across the street!

Please continue to lift us up in prayer. I truly believe that the power of prayer will bring Anne Pearce home soon. I have total faith that the Lord will give her a miracle. Even though we are happy to be back home, there is a nursery upstairs that needs a little girl. Our family is not complete until Anne Pearce is home with us. Thank you all again for all of your thoughts, prayers, and love. You all mean the world to us!

Lou

We made it through, but our hearts are broken.

I can't even find the words to describe how difficult it was to hand Anne Pearce back to her foster mother. It makes me cry right now just thinking about it. When Andrew had to go to the lobby I prayed so hard for God to give me peace. He did. It didn't take away the pain, but I didn't worry about her. Jacqueline brought her husband with her tonight, and we all cried. They are such faithful Christians. Even though I couldn't understand a word they were saying I knew. She felt my pain and was so gracious. She told me that the night she was given AP she and her husband, Oscar, prayed for a good Christian family for the baby. She said it will hurt her so badly when AP comes home with us, but we are her destiny. She said God told her she would have AP for 2 more months. It makes leaving her so much easier knowing she is with good Christians. They sing her hymns everyday!! She also gave me her email address, and said she will send me pictures and video!!!!! Praise God!!!! What a blessing that is. I am amazed by the way God continues to bless us. He is an awesome and loving God. I feel like I am sitting in the palm of His hand right now. He is comforting me in a way I cannnot explain.

This journey has been wonderful. God led us here to our daughter and blessed us over and over again. Our faith has led us to Anne Pearce, and I know it will bring her home.

I will end on a very happy note:
We entered Family Court today!!! Praise God!!
We love you all, and I feel you praying for us. DON'T STOP.

Lou, already missing my daughter

We are having a great day.....

We slept in a little later today, then we went down and had lunch. We were the only ones in the restaurant for a while. We have mostly just played, and played photo shoot. It has been a great day. We love her so much. We had our crying spree last night. I know it will be difficult later, but I feel God giving us strength. You all know I will cry, but I know this is temporary. We are so thankful to AP's foster mother. We can tell how well taken care of and loved she is. Neither of us worry about her at all. In honor of her foster mother and to keep part of her Guatemalan heritage, AP's full name will be Anne Pearce Carolina Lynn. It's a mouthful, but it will be important to her later. Andrew bought me a Guatemalan mother/daughter ring. It's 2 rings connected together. Each ring has a jade stone. Jade has huge significance to the Mayan society.

It was viewed as royal. Some Mayans even had Jade implanted in their teeth. I won't go that far, but I will wear this ring every day to remind me of our journey to Anne Pearce. The little princess is napping right now, so I'm going to go love on her some more!

Lou

We are so thankful for all of our friends!

We are so blessed to have all of you! We can feel your prayers, love, and support all the way here in Guatemala. You all just don't know how much it means to us. Karen and Mark told us how everyone at church tonight was asking about us. We truly believe in the power of prayer, and it sounds like everyone at Spanish Fort UMC is on the prayer warrior path for Anne Pearce. Tomorrow is our last day with her. I don't even let myself think about giving her back. Please pray for Andrew and me to have strength and to realize that this is only for a short while.

We love you all,

Anne Pearce and her mommy and daddy

We want to introduce our new friends:

This is Karen and her daughter, Abbie. Karen and I met online, and started emailing and talking when we discovered that we would be here at the same time. As you can see, Anne Pearce is about 2 Abbies! They met us at the door when we got here, and we have really enjoyed our time together. Karen also was gracious enough to film our first meeting with Anne Pearce. She said that it was like something from "An Adoption Story". We are so grateful to her for capturing that moment. The girls are pretty close together in the process, and we hope they get to come home at the same time. We plan to keep in touch and let these little girls be friends. They are already off to a good start just like their mommies!

Everyone Pray!

There has been some confusion regarding our case. We believed we were in Family Court (the first stage), but we don't enter until this week. Our translator is wonderful! He came and visited with us for a couple of hours today. He and Andrew went out shopping for some souvenirs. I was going to take AP, but it was too cool. Yes, it's cool even here today. After talking with Jorge, we are at peace. We told him that we are Christians, and that God will take care of Anne Pearce. It is nice knowing we have Jorge on our side also. Our timeline still looks good for bringing her home in about 3-4 months. Sergio believes that we will enter PGN (the last court) in mid- February. The typical timeline there is 6-8 weeks if nothing goes wrong. We truly believe that God will give us all a miracle, and bring her home early. If this entire case went without troubles a miracle wouldn't be as apparent as it will be now. The miracle will be for the glory of God! Our faith has not lessened. HE is in control. Please be specific in your prayers: in and out of Family Court quickly. We can pray about PGN later!






Love to you all.......Enjoy some pictures from today. Andrew's Meme made her hat, and she is precious in it. Andrew put her bow on the side! We will have another photo shoot later.






Note: In the first picture she is wearing a daygown that her godbrother and sister wore. It wouldn't fit around her fat neck, but we atleast got Auntie Lisa a picture. The second daygown has been worn by my niece Olivia, 15, Logan ,12, and Hayden who is now 10, and of course now, Anne Pearce.





More later.....


Lou


Nathan and Nicole's gown:

Our family day gown:

Too cute in my hat!!!

AP's godmother, Lisa, requested a picture of her crying....This is as close as it gets!

Greetings from Guatemala.......

Just being precious!

I can't tell you all just how wonderful Anne Pearce is!! She is really the BEST tempered baby I have ever seen. She never fusses at all. She amazes her daddy and me. Karen laughs that I will put her in all 1000 outfits we brought! I change her clothes about 3 times a day. She never spits up or anything, so I have no real excuse! It's just fun. She loves her daddy!!! He makes her laugh constantly. We are both so glad that we did this. It is such a blessing to see and hold her. I'm giving her plenty of kisses from everybody. I'm going to post some more pictures from today.

Love to all,

Lou, Andrew, and Anne Pearce

We are in love!

Anne Pearce is the best baby. She is such a little angel. She's cat napping right now. Andrew is working on adding some video, so check back in a little while. If you want to call us at the hotel the number is:

011-502-2410-1777
Room 365

Watch on your phones for our cell phone. It shows up as unknown on caller ID. We would love to hear from some of you.

The happiest parents on earth,

Lou and Andrew

Here are more pics:

I have my daddy right where I want him!

Playing with my daddy and mommy:

My first bath:

This morning at breakfast:

Sleeping Beauty!

Here she is........

Miss Precious! Anne Pearce is such a happy baby. She coos and talks all the time. The foster mom cut her hair though, and it is crazy. I don't know what we're going to do with it! The only time she has fussed was when she wanted a bottle. Andrew and I are in love. Right now she has the hiccups, and is laughing at the TV. She is such a little miracle. Andrew is a natural daddy. She has him wrapped around her little finger. Tomorrow I will post more about the first meeting, but for now Im going to post some of the first pictures.

Love to all and more tomorrow,

Lou, Andrew, and Anne Pearce