Received a letter in the Mail from Peter's foster mother

wow, Margaret was quite surprised to get a letter (sent express) in the mail from Peter's foster mother. The foster family that took care of Peter during our adoption always emailed us to keep in touch. Margaret sent pics of Peter and a letter or card to the foster family every month since Peter 's been home. Margaret called her cousin and had the letter emailed to her so she can translate it (thanks Marie). It was very sad news. So Margaret decided to call the foster mother the next day, just to make sure what was written in the letter was true and accurate.

On Thurs Sept. 13th, Margaret called Peter's foster mom to talk to her (with the help of Soni to translate- thanks!!). Sandra (Peter's foster mother) told us the sad news that her daughter was killed last week. Her daughter Kimberly was only 14 and she helped a lot to take care of Peter while he was there. Kimberly always rocked Peter to sleep before Bedtime and Margaret continued that when they brought Peter home. Now, Peter is a big boy, so he lays on the couch while watching TV with his dad and mom, and falls asleep along with his dad on the couch.

I felt soo sorry for Sandra & her family. She said her family is so devastated, that they are just taking one day at a time. They didn't catch the men who did this, and she said in Guatemala nothing is done to the criminals, because a lot of people are afraid that they will come back and kill the rest of their family. The crime rate is extremely high in Guatemala, especially towards females, and hopefully the next President will enforce the law and put these criminals behind bars.

Please say a prayer for Sandra and her family during this time of loss.

To bring a little bit of sunshine to this phone call, Margaret told Sandra that they were adopting again, but was not going through an agency. Margaret asked Sandra if she wanted to see Peter when we came to Guatemala to pick up Anna, because he will be with us, and Sandra was very happy to know that she will be able to see Peter. Margaret told Sandra that she will call her when they know the date that they will be going to Guatemala to pick up Anna and she can come to the hotel to see Peter. Sandra was very happy to hear the good news and to know that she will be seeing Peter soon. She also wished Peter a happy birthday, Margaret was surprised that she remembered, and she also remembered Karina's birthday too (a girl that Sandra fostered, and Margaret keeps in touch with this family that lives down south).

Thanks for your Prayers for Peter's foster family.

Called Anna's Foster Mother this evening

Hi All,

Margaret called Anna's foster mother this evening (with the help of Jeanette to Translate - thanks!) to see how Anna is doing. Anna is doing very good and is now drinking/eating 3 oz. every two hours. The foster mom said that Anna only gets up twice during the night to eat. But she's a good eater and a very happy baby.

Can't wait for Anna to come home!

Peter and his "First Day of School"

Okay, so Margaret decided to write other happenings on the blog while we were waiting for Pre Approval from the Embassy. Hopefully that will come well before the expected wait of 60 days.

Last week, all Peter kept on talking about was School, because he saw the school buses and the kids getting on and off them. So his mom asked him if he wanted to go to school - and Peter replied yes. So Peter's mom told him that she will go and sign him up for school. So, Margaret signed Peter up for a gym & art class that started today. We can just pretend that this is "school". When Peter woke up, his mom asked him if he wanted to go to school, and Peter got all excited and wanted to get dressed right away and get going, but mommy told him that he had a little time to eat breakfast. So once everyone was ready, Peter hopped in the truck and went to his "First day of School". He was so cute, walking like a big boy into the building. We entered the classroom with the other children, and Peter just left him mom behind, while the other children were clinging onto their moms. Today Peter did a cute art project and he enjoyed gym time the most with his new friends. Peter enjoyed his "first day of school". Luckily, Peter doesn't want to take the bus to school - he's fine going in mommy's truck for now. :)

After dinner, we went to Toys R Us, so Peter can get some ideas to tell his cousins, aunts and uncles what he wants for his Birthday. A lot of family members have been asking, and mommy only had a few suggestions, so we decided to go to the toy store to get more ideas. Peter just loved the Thomas the Train isle. After the toy store we went to the party place to get the paper goods for his birthday party. Peter was not parting with the Thomas the Train paper plates, and he wouldn't even give them to the cashier to ring up - so the cashier scanned it while Peter held it. He was soo happy shopping. He held the paper plates in his hands all the way home and into the house. Once in the house, he just sat on the couch to look at all of them, as if each package was different. He was adorable today, my little baby is growing up quick.

So how old is Peter gonna be? Peter is gonna be 2! If you ask Peter, he'll tell you how old he is going to be, and he even tries to put the two fingers up too......it's a cute moment. :)

The 2007 Election Results in Guatemala

Hi All,
Below are the results for the Elections in Guatemala. since no Presidential Candidate acquired over 50% of the vote, a run off will take place on November 4th with the top two contenders. As for the top two = "One of them is a socialist and the other one has bad reputation of being involved with bad guys". Lets just hope "who ever gets elected does not damage Guatemala in every aspect".


PRELIMINARY ELECTION RESULTSGUATEMALA 2007Guatemalans participated in general elections yesterday, September 9.

Since no presidential candidate acquired over 50% of the vote, on November 4th there will be a run-off between the two top contenders, Alvaro Colom of the National Unity for Hope (UNE) party and Otto Perez Molina of the Patriot Party (PP).

With close to 95% percent of the vote counted, the standings in the presidential race are as follows:
Alvaro Colom, National Unity for Hope (UNE): 28%
Otto Perez Molina, Patriot Party (PP): 24%
Alejandro Giammattei, Great National Alliance (GANA): 17%
Eduardo Suger, Center for Social Action (CASA): 7%
Luis Rabbe, Guatemalan Republican Front (FRG): 7%
Rigoberta Menchu, Encounter for Guatemala (EG): 3%

The rest of the parties received less than 3% of the vote. More election news in Spanish can be found at:http://www.prensalibre.com/pl/edicionelectoral07/index.html

Updated Pics of our Little Anna

Isn't she just precious! Peter was cute when he saw the pic of his baby sister. He knew who it was "Aaannaaa"

DNA is a match & We are in the Embassy! YIPPIE!!

Hi All,
We received an email today from our lawyer, informing us that he received the DNA results and they were good. We didn't receive them in the mail yet, but they should be coming any day. He also informed us that we are in the Embassy waiting for Pre-Approval. This is the time to wait - the usual wait is 60 days...........so count 60 days from now and we should be Pre Approved to enter PGN.

Hmmm, maybe Margaret will call her congressman in 45 days, just to see if anything can be done. One never knows. :)

~ Update with Guatemala ~

hey all,

Time for some Good Wishes, Prayers, Fingers Crossed, Whatever Works for You!

We just received an email from our agency (FTIA) that we adopted our son Peter with. Even though we are not using them to adopt our daughter Anna, they still send us emails to keep us up to date. The email pretty much states that they are no longer accepting applications for their Guatemala program. This email was quite a shock to see, because FTIA has always been honest with everything going on in the "adoption world" and with this email - it makes you wonder what is going on in Guatemala that we don't know about, for FTIA to stop accepting applications.

The implementation of the Hague Treaty in Guatemala, has raised quite a few eyebrows. We have always believed in what FTIA has said about it. Of course there is the "rumor mill" and then there are the facts, and with so many hands (different parts of the government both in Guatemala and the U.S.) it is hard to decide which way it will go.

We will continue to think positive that our Anna will come home before the Hague Treaty causes any delays or disruptions in adoptions. We have confidence in our lawyer, that our Anna will be home for the holidays.

Please keep us in your thoughts by prayer, good wishes, fingers crossed, or whatever works for you.

Thanks,