Time for Some Fun!

Hi all,

Today Margaret and Peter went to Great Adventure with Margaret's family (well, part of Margaret's family). Peter had so much fun with his cousins, Aunts and Uncles. Peter is becoming a Big Boy - wanted to go on rides by himself - no mommy, no cousin, just himself. Peter wouldn't take a nap at all, he kept on fighting to stay awake throughout the day, and he even managed to get his "second wind", "third wind", etc. But he didn't mind the "limo drive" (stroller) - he enjoyed that service. Below are some pics of our Fun Day.

Time to get working on those Letters

Okay, its time to get working on those letters. The Ortega Law (UNICEF law) was passed yesterday in Guatemala. On Tues. Oct. 9th, congress will go through a detailed, point by point, reading of it where amendments can be made. It is our understanding that among proposed amendments are a grandfather clause as well as a delayed implementation date. We need to write letters to be sure that they put an amendment in it - and put a "grandfather clause" in the law, so that all adoptions in process will be able to continue until completed. Please write, fax, call - whatever is easier for you.

Here are some sample letters of what to write (scroll down towards the middle for sample letter links) http://www.guatadopt.com/archives/000715.html#000715- for friends, family, people who are adopting or have adopted, etc. etc. etc. All you have to do is all your name and address and hit print.

As for the addresses, please go to this website and put in your zip code (top left corner) and mail/fax/call/email it to everyone on that list. http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home/

Along with your senators, congressman, President Bush, please add the following names and addresses to those letters;

Embassy of Guatemala in the U.S.
2220 R. Street N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
office phone - 1-202-745-4952
office fax - 1-202-745-1908
http://www.guatemala-embassy.org/

Ann Veneman Executive Director of UNICEF
Telephone - 212-326-7000
fax - 212-326-7758
email: information@unicefusa.org

Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues
telephone # 202-736-9130
fax # 202-736-9080

Also, Margaret added a Website corner (top right corner) so you can refer to it, to see what exactly is going on with Guatemala Adoptions.

Anna and all the other babies waiting to come home, Thank you from their hearts!

This Evening we spoke to our Lawyer

So, instead of watching the CNN segment on adoptions in Guatemala - (I DVR'd that), I called our lawyer and spoke to him about everything that is going on. My friend Soni joined in on the phone call - just to make sure I understood everything - and it worked out great. After talking to our lawyer, I felt better about our adoption. Yes, we do still need to contact our congressmen and senators, but I am confident that everything will work out and our Anna will be home soon.

Please continue to send your good wishes and prayers so Anna comes home real soon.

Thanks for your support.

UNICEF just aren't what they use to be! & Neither is Hallmark Stores

Okay, I know I can't tell you what to do, but maybe after you read the following - you'll make the right choice. UNICEF is trying to reward the President of Guatemala 28 million dollars, YES, that is 28 million $$$ - there is no decimal points in there, it is twenty eight million dollars to stop adoptions in Guatemala.

UNICEF is known to be the world's most respected child aid organization. In reality, this is not so. As you read this, UNICEF is actively working to end international adoptions from Guatemala, leaving thousands of innocent children a year with no chance for a decent life. UNICEF endorses legislation that severely restricts a woman's right to choose an adoption plan for her child as well as her right to privacy. Unfortunately, UNICEF offers little advice on how countries like Guatemala should care for the children who would otherwise live secure lives with a loving family.

Hallmark Cards - this right off their website: "NEW YORK, N.Y. (Nov. 7, 2005) — UNICEF has selected Hallmark Cards, Inc. as the exclusive supplier for all UNICEF greeting cards sold in the United States. The leading children's organization in the world, UNICEF was founded in 1946 to save, protect and improve the lives of children and their families." For more details please visit their website at http://pressroom.hallmark.com/unicef.html

The following came off the ADA Website (Asociacion Defensores De La Adopcion), their website is: http://www.adaguatemala.org/English/news/

"There is no question that there is a way to make millions of dollars with adoptions. Simply by making them impossible, UNICEF is rewarding our president (Guatemala President) with a 28 million donation for this accomplishment, with the complicity of the congressmen. UNICEF is using the money of the taxpayers of the First World to eliminate poverty in our Third World country, by eliminating the children of the poor, because as the UNICEF delegate said: the underdevelopment of a country begins in the uterus of a poor woman. Genocide is not a crime of war. UNICEF is showing us how it can be done, without any risk for the perpetrator. We will not remain silent while they do it. That is a promise. "

Yesterday, Margaret went into Hallmark Card shop to get a card, and there was a HUGE display for UNICEF! I just couldn't believe it, I was so surprised. I told the woman behind the counter that I didn't know that Hallmark supports UNICEF, and she said yes, they have for a few years now. I then told her that Hallmark will no longer have me as a customer. The woman then asked why, I told her what UNICEF is trying to do with Guatemala adoptions, and she was so surprised - she didn't believe it. So I told the woman to go home and google it - and she can see it for herself in black and white. I was just so amazed on the huge display that Hallmark had set up for UNICEF. Looks like Margaret has another letter to write to Hallmark.

Please, if you are reading this, I know you do care about Anna and adoptions. Please do not support UNICEF in any way. This is another organization that can use a letter from all of us, on what they are trying to do to innocent children that live in Guatemala.

Margaret plans on making a flyer to hand out to the parents and children when they come trick or treating - so they know what UNICEF is trying to do. I am sure those "orange boxes" will be coming home from school soon with your child, please - support our adoption as well as all other adoptions in Guatemala and please do not collect for UNICEF.

Thanks for your support.

Peter's Answers for the Week are "Anna"...."Anna"..."Anna"...

Peter has been adorable over the past week. Every time Mommy would say, guess where we are going today? Peter would answer "Anna." Or if mommy told Peter someone was coming over to visit, Peter's answer would be "Anna". Peter is just stuck on Anna, but we would explain to him that Anna will be home soon. But it really doesn't matter, because Peter's answers are still "Anna, Anna, Anna".

We mailed out a package the other day to a family that is traveling to Guatemala and they offered to bring it for us - Thanks Laurie. Somehow, we forgot to put the toy in there that Peter picked out, so when Peter saw the toy - he knew it was for Anna. But mommy explained to him that we will just hold onto it until Anna comes home - and then he had a big smile on his face.

I think Peter is going to be a great big brother. :)

WE ARE IN PGN!!! YAHOOOOOOOOO

Yep, you heard it all the way from here..............

WE ARE IN PGN!

A lot of people have been asking what is PGN..........well, here is the description from the Department of State;

The PGN scrutinizes the adoption case for signs of fraud or irregularities before providing its approval of the adoption. Upon receiving PGN approval, the adoptive parents in the U.S. are legally responsible for their child(ren). The attorney obtains final approval from the Guatemalan birth mother and then requests a birth certificate listing the adoptive parents as the parents of the adopted child.

PGN stands for Procuradoria General de la Nacion. Procuradoria is a Spanish term that is used in Central America. Its relative to jurisprudence in Guatemala.

So, lets keep on thinking positive, that PGN will be kind to us and let us out (approve us) real quick, so our Anna will come home.

Today Margaret called our lawyer and spoke with him. He was soo excited that we got Pre-Approval so quick, "it's a miracle" he just kept on saying that..........it was cute. I told him, that I am sure our congressman had something to do with it = Thanks Mr. Congressman! He then told me that we were in PGN, I was so surprised to hear that because I knew he had other paper work to get together, before turning our folder into PGN. He just picked up our folder early this morning from the US Embassy and it's already in PGN. Our lawyer is soo GREAT! He worked over the weekend, to check all our documents and made sure we had everything for PGN.

Just want to Thank everyone for their support! We are soo blessed to have such great friends and family. Thank you!

Online Adoption Petition - TO KEEP GUATEMALA ADOPTIONS OPEN!

Please help by signing the petition to keep Guatemala Adoptions Open!

On the right margin, Margaret put a link to where you can go and sign the petition on line. Once the page opens, at the end of the letter - you need to click it again and follow the steps to sign the petition. Every signature counts, so please pass it onto your friends and family.

thanks so much,
Margaret & Kerry