We are here safe and sound...and more drama occured!

Well, a couple of wild events from our arrival today. First, we were sitting at the gate getting ready to board our flight from Atlanta to Guatemala City and we think we see a girl that was in my graduating class. We weren't 100% sure it was her and thought why on earth would she be going to Guatemala. Well, after we landed we discovered it was Shannon Cronk. IF YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT'S A SMALL WORLD THIS STORY WILL MAKE YOU!!!

We spoke to her and guess what?!?! She and her husband are adopting too! Their embassy appointment is also tomorrow morning and they are flying home on the same flight as us! They live in Alabama. Now, you can't tell me that is not a weird story!!!! A class of about 80 students and we are both in Guatemala adopting babies!!!! Their son is 16 months old and this is their first meeting. We are, of course, thrilled for them. They also have two biological children - ages 7 and 5. We will surely see them again tomorrow and on our return flight.

Then, we arrive at the hotel and Kenneth is helping us settle in and his cell phone rings. He tells us that someone from their office is at the Embassy and the police outside will not let them in to pick up our pink slip. He told us that he and Victor (who picked us up at the airport) would head over and see if they could resolve the problem. He said they might be back to pick us up to head over and beg as well. Well, after waiting for a couple hours, Kenneth finally called and said that all was well. They got the slip at 3:30pm and she is at the embassy doctor as we speak. They will drop her off as soon as that is over. Thank heavens!!!!

Well, as you all know the wait is finally over...

Well, what a weird feeling waking up this morning knowing this is our final day together - just the two of us! Weird, but wonderful, of course! Life is about to change forever!!

We leave for the Bloomington airport bright and early tomorrow - probably about 3:45am to make our 6am flight. Mazzi will arrive to the hotel after her 4pm embassy doctor appointment - just a final clearance allowing her to enter the US. We will fly home through Atlanta. We are both a little nervous about going through customs. We have a million papers we have to take and we just hope it is all in order. We have heard Miami is horribly hard to get through so we're hoping Atlanta is easy! Then we arrive in Bloomington on Thursday night at 8:58pm.

We want to thank all of you SO much for following our journey and for all your support, well wishes and prayers during this process. We know it seems like it's been an eternity but we really only applied one year ago. Amazing how life can change so much in 12 months.

Life is not only changing for us though...it is also changing for Ms. Mazzi! We know that Mazzi has some MAJOR adjustments ahead of her. Everything in her tiny little life is changing - from her physical environment, smells, voices (English speaking ones none the less), the car seat (she has never rode in one), her bed and must significant of all - she is leaving the mother and family she has known for 7 months.

We absolutely cannot wait for all of you to meet her but in order to help her adjust as smoothly as possible and to give her some time to get to know her new mom and dad, we are asking that visitors wait until after the weekend to come and see her. We hope you will all understand our need for Mazzi to spend Friday, Saturday and Sunday in her new home with her Mom and Dad giving her and us this time to settle in. We welcome you ALL the following week and can't wait to see you! Thank you for understanding!!!!

Thanks again for all your love and support, we never could have done it without you!!!

Just a quick note...will write more later.

Just wanted to post a quick update to let you all know that the wait is finally over. After a crazy mess and confusion, it is official. We fly out Monday bright and early. Mazzi will come to us about 5pm and we will say our good-byes to Adriana. Then we have our embassy appointment at 8am on Tuesday. We have wait for her Visa on Wednesday and then we fly home on Thursday. Leaving Guatemala at 2pm and arriving in Bloomington at 9pm. Finally the date is set! I will post more later...when I'm not so exhausted!!!

Happy Halloween from Mazzi!

Trick or Treat...wish I was home for some candy!

The October photos have arrived...notice she doesn't smile nearly as much without her Mom & Dad.

I have yet another favor to ask of all of you...

Well, I know many, many of our faithful readers have been praying that Mazzi's adoption would be completed quickly and that we would be able to bring her home very soon. Well, those prayers have been much appreciated by us and we know they have worked as we are getting SO very close to bringing her home.

So, now I have another favor to ask of you. I'm sure you all have either read about or heard me talk about the wonderful lady, Jane, who is fostering her son at the La Casa Grande where we stay when we visit. Jane is an exceptional woman who has been living in the hotel in Guatemala for many months. She has become a sort of mother hen for all the visiting families and takes care of everyone! Her husband fortunately is able to visit them every 3 weeks or so, but as you can imagine, Jane is ready to get home and get back to a normal life in the USA. She is so very anxious for her whole family to meet her little one and ready to be reunited with her husband for good and start their life as a family!

Jane has just experienced her second "kickout" from PGN. Both have been for completely foolish reasons that she has had absolutely no control over. Needless to say, she is frustrated and feeling like her OUT will never come. Well, I'm hoping that you will all consider adding Jane and her family to your prayers. Please pray that her OUT comes very soon and that the remainder of her stay in Guatemala will be safe! She would certainly love to spend Christmas at home instead of in the La Casa Grande!

I know you have all been waiting patiently...finally photos from our trip!