Play Ball!

Well, we're back "in the game" with HG's adoption. Yeah! So, now what? We wait but hopefully not for too much longer. The case is back in the PGN/Attorney General's office as of the end of last week. We hope and pray that they will not find anything "wrong" with it this time and will be able to keep track of all of the paperwork (remember that the file is probably 1 1/2" - 3" thick!). Then, we were able to get something submitted to the US Embassy today. We know that they will ask for more paperwork BUT at least I believe we will be moving in the direction of a resolution here instead of chasing our tails as we have done for the last 6 months (yep, 6 months). EEK! No, I have no true idea on how long it will take, but if you ask HM and HV, they will tell you that HG WILL be coming home this summer! I hope they are right!

A few of you have emailed, asking if HG and and her foster family are ok with the volcanic activity from Pacaya and the damaging rains/floods from Tropical Storm Agatha. Thank you for asking. I got an email from the foster sister on Sunday and she said that they are doing well. She said that they have lost power a time or two and their internet is spotty but they do not have any flooding in their house--thank you, Lord. They have continued to have some troubles with the roadways (flooding) but it hasn't been too bad. Again, thank you, Lord, for Your safe-keeping of our sweet girl.

Where's the GREEN flag?

I feel like we are going round and round--like with a car/NASCAR race. The caution flag as been raised and everyone is going around, being careful because something has gone on. WHEN are they going to wave the green flag? I posted about the caution flag about 2 weeks ago, remember? Well, since then, the return receipt has been received. We thought we were then "home free" and that the green flag was back out. Nope. Nada. Zilch. I have now learned that the Judge has to review the thing again, making sure that everything is set with it and then she has to sign it. After that, we can get the certified copies we need. Now, you must remember that the Judge has had this document for the last 30+ calendar days. She knows what it says. She doesn't need any more time to review it. She's already done that. So, sign the darned thing, would ya? J and I were quite disgusted last night when we found out. We were hoping that we were going to receive the certified copies yesterday only to find out that we have to wait. wait. wait. again. again. again. J said, "You know. The average person would not believe that we are waiting for the Judge to review and sign a piece of paper that she has had for 30+ days. It just doesn't make sense to any rational person." She's right. It doesn't. The translator is going to try and get news on this on Monday. Please pray. Please pray for the Judge's heart to be softened and for her hand to be ready to SIGN the thing on Monday so that we can get this going. The cases for 6 children will be able to get the green flag as soon as we can get the paperwork. I know that 6 kids isn't very many in the world, but when one of them is YOUR kid, it's huge. No green flag until we can get this paperwork. So, we keep going round and round. Round and round. I'm ready for this ride to stop. I'm getting sick.

Bread

some bread from our little bakery close to our apartment in Guatemala--this wasn't our normal bread but this was all they had on this day that was fresh.

I love bread. I really could bypass almost all of the meal if I had bread. HV is a bread lover too. I joke and say that she got that from me. :) In Guatemala, we would go and get fresh bread from a particular bakery several days per week to have with our meals. The girl at the bakery came to know us and would only sell us fresh bread. See, since I'm a gringa, some bakeries would simply sell me whatever, even if it wasn't fresh, and so that's why we continued to go to the same one over and over. She knew us. As I shared before, my friend gave me a Bible Study book for the Lord's Prayer. I decided when I finished it in Guatemala that I would continue to go through the book until HG comes home. So, I'm on my second time through now. The study lasts 40 days, not counting Sundays (it's designed to use during the Lenten season), and I do hope that I only get to do it twice before she comes home. :) I know I commented before on the lessons discussed in the book on bread here, but it's hitting me over the head AGAIN as I journey through it a second time. "Bread" is much more than the food pictured above. It's about God's provision for us. God keeps reminding me through this study and discussion on "bread" that He WILL provide. If we are following what He commands us to do (and we feel we are), then He will provide. My human side, however, becomes fearful that we won't have all of the funds to cover our adoption expenses. We have been overwhelmed by the goodness and thankful for the generosity of a few families that have given to HG's adoption fund. J and I couldn't believe it. We aren't where we need to be in terms of the finances, but we KNOW that we are doing what God has asked us to do and He will, therefore, provide. Pray for our patience, wisdom, and understanding with it all. We are only humans.

Only in Guatemala....

Eggs in Guatemala in the grocery stores are typically sold in increments of 15. Since it would take 7 eggs to feed myself and my 3 hungry girls huevos revueltos (scrambled eggs) for breakfast, we typically bought 30. I bought this package one day at the Hiper Paiz in the City and when I got it home, the girls asked me WHAT IS THAT in the eggs. I had forgotten about it being in there, but upon remembering, I laughed. It's a small package of plastic utensils--3 forks, 3 spoons, 3 knives. Now what you are supposed to do with that with your eggs, I have no idea! Only in Guatemala....

Cabelleriza

I just realized that I never published this post from when we went on the horseback riding tour. Sorry! This was one of the highlights of the trip for HV. That girl loves horses! So, here you go--one month after we did the ride.

I started this post yesterday/Wednesday, but my internet connection was spotty and I never could get it finished.

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

This morning, HM, HV, and myself went for a ride. This wasn't just any ordinary ride. It was a ride on HV's most favorite animal, THE HORSE! HG stayed behind with A and had a great time. We rode for 2 hours and saw so much of God's beautiful creations. I don't know that these pictures will do it justice, but here's some (ok, lots of) photos from the day.

Coffee plants. There were tons of coffee plants on the trail. My horse, which seemed to eat the most while on the walk, did not care to eat leaves from the coffee plants. She would put them in her mouth but not pull them off of the plants, leaving them behind.

Avacado tree

Carrots growing

Beautiful view from our ride. Having been to Guatemala many times, this was not a "touristy" thing and I loved it! The girls did too.

I have no idea where these men and their horses were going. Occasionally, we would see people along the way like this, but I never saw any houses or anything that remotely resembled a dwelling place. Everyone was very friendly.

Another man we passed on the trail, carrying his heavy load on his back and his machete in his hand.

Looking back towards the city in which we currently live.

It was rather sunny and I did not stop my horse to take many photos so I simply had to hold the camera up and push the button, hoping it came out ok. You can tell from the photo, but the volcano on the left is puffing some smoke.

Vincente walked the entire time next to HM, leading her horse. He was very nice, always making sure we were all ok.

Heading down the trail between the maize. The horses would grab some of the corn stalks as we walked by and eat while walking. My horse in particular always seemed to want to eat.

After we rode through the trails, we ended up riding through this City. I don't know if it was because HV was riding this very big house by herself at the front or my white/blonde self that attracted the attention, but it like we were in the Macy's Parade. People coming out of their houses, waving, smiling, all very friendly. I thought it was rather funny to see these toothless little old ladies smiling and waving at us as they sold their produce on the side of the road.

This was the largest stallion there, Principe. He was gorgeous! In the stall next to him was Princesa. The two had mated but, from what I could gather between my "great" spanish was that Princesa had the baby yesterday and that the baby had died. Princesa was sad--you could see it in her eyes. I didn't photograph her, but she was almost as big as Principe and the same jetblack color.

trying to get close to the little philly you see in the background, but she wouldn't let them. This was as close as they were able to get.

Our tour guide's wife took this picture. She had never used a camera and so I had to give her a little lesson first. Not too bad for her first photo.

Ah! That's better! I picked up HM, thinking that it would make it easier for her to get us all in the photo. I think it worked!

Vincente, his wife, and their son, Julio Rafael

He was fascinated by seeing himself on my camera in the family shot and so I took his picture alone. While he isn't smiling in the photo, he sure did when he saw it!

McDonald's, Guatemalan Style

I'm having trouble moving these pictures around, but these are all taken at McDonald's. Yep, McDonald's has this beautiful garden and fountain. The Guatemalans could teach our American workers at McDonald's a thing or two. The people at McDonald's in Guatemala have learned customer service and all get an A+ for their grade. Here's the typical dine-in adventure at McDonald's:
1. You are greeted at the door and typically the door is held open for you as you enter. At the above pictured McDonald's, a worker comes to put a plastic bib on HG (we only ate there twice, but this happened both times).
2. They help carry the trays to your table.
3. The ketchup for your dine-in experience is typically the kind that you squirt into the little papercups. They typically get this for you.
4. They come around, checking to see how you are doing, and if you would like to order dessert. Yep, this is McDonald's.
5. At another one we visited on our trip (the one mentioned in #7 below), they will bring the English speaking worker to the front, just to help out. I can order decently in spanish and so it's not a problem, but it's a nice service.
6. You also typically do not take your own trash to the can like we do in the US. I usually begin loading our stuff up on the tray and over comes someone, eager to clean up our table and take the trash.
7. On our last night in Guatemala, we went to a different McDonald's. This was had the same LOVELY customer service. They came to the table, bringing their comment book, asking if we would like to make a comment on their service and food. Sure! We all wrote something in it. The workers got a kick out of HV and HM both writing something in it.
8. The food is very fresh. I don't eat McDonald's except for breakfast foods in the US. While it's still not my favorite in Guatemala, I can eat there. There are not 1000 burgers sitting under the lamp, ready to be passed out to customers. If they have the meat prepared, they keep it in the back and prepare the burgers as you order them. We all order ours in a special way, "plain," and it does not take them any longer to prepare than it does any other burger.
9. For the girls, one of the highlights is that they let you choose your own Cajita Feliz (Happy Meal) toy. They put the choices on the counter and you can select the one that you want. On our last night, they were having Super Cajita Feliz and you got to select 2 toys AND there was a little baggie inside the box that had a lollipop, gum, stickers, and some coupons for area attractions.
10. For me, one of the highlights is that the Oreo (and the M&M which HM got a few times) McFlurry has both the candy/cookie in it AND hot fudge (or caramel if you prefer) for no extra charge. Nice! They don't blend the McFlurry at all so it's more like a sundae with more/different toppings but it's still tasty.
So, US workers in McDonald's, take notes. Your co-workers in the south are showing you up!