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.