My caseworker doesn't have an update for me yet.
I'll post something when I know more.
Monday, July 30, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Finally talked with my caseworker!
My caseworker called this afternoon. I think she had been putting off the call because she thought she was giving me bad news.
The short story is that my agency has gotten very concerned over the last State Department memo. They don't want to start any new cases until the Hague issues are resolved.
However (good news alert), my caseworker is going to talk with the program director and the lawyers to see if I can re-start my process anyway. Since I had already started the process, I may be able to continue now. My situation is rather unique since I have the flexibility of working remotely from Guatemala.
It's a long shot for them to agree for me to re-start my process. I'm 100% calm & excited all at the same time. I figure if it's supposed to happen now, it will. If it's supposed to happen later, it will. Divine timing - it's all divine timing!
I'd truly love to hear her voice tomorrow. I'd truly love to hear her say, "Okay, Lucinda, get going with that paperwork ASAP because we're going to see if we can make this happen!"
The short story is that my agency has gotten very concerned over the last State Department memo. They don't want to start any new cases until the Hague issues are resolved.
However (good news alert), my caseworker is going to talk with the program director and the lawyers to see if I can re-start my process anyway. Since I had already started the process, I may be able to continue now. My situation is rather unique since I have the flexibility of working remotely from Guatemala.
It's a long shot for them to agree for me to re-start my process. I'm 100% calm & excited all at the same time. I figure if it's supposed to happen now, it will. If it's supposed to happen later, it will. Divine timing - it's all divine timing!
I'd truly love to hear her voice tomorrow. I'd truly love to hear her say, "Okay, Lucinda, get going with that paperwork ASAP because we're going to see if we can make this happen!"
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Guatemalan coffee in my house!
It's such a wonderful feeling to be home! I slept an extra long time last night just because I was in my bed.
I'm sitting at my dining room table and enjoying my second cup of Guatemalan coffee. There are 30 quail and a few rabbits eating the grass in my backyard.
I've left a message for my agency case worker. She's out of the office today & tomorrow. I asked her to call me next week.
I'm sitting at my dining room table and enjoying my second cup of Guatemalan coffee. There are 30 quail and a few rabbits eating the grass in my backyard.
Life is good!
I've left a message for my agency case worker. She's out of the office today & tomorrow. I asked her to call me next week.
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Slightly worried
Haven't heard back from my agency yet...
I'm going to call tomorrow to ask again about getting my paperwork underway
I'm going to call tomorrow to ask again about getting my paperwork underway
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Going with the flow....
Talk about divine timing!
While I'm resting & relaxing in Columbus, IN this morning, I started chatting with my friend's father about my trip to Guatemala. He tells me that he knows a couple in Columbus who have a foundation for helping people in Guatemala.
Long story short, I meet them. We spend several hours talking about the foundation - Seeds of Help. It's designed to assist the people of Guatemala through education and development programs and construction projects. I love that they follow the policy of teaching people how to fish instead of giving them fish to eat!
Tonight we talked about the organization, development efforts, and great ideas about how to move forward. I'm traveling back to Indiana in early September to continue talking with them about how the organization can grow and evolve.
Some people would say, "What an amazing coincidence!"
I say, "Everything happens for a reason!"
While I'm resting & relaxing in Columbus, IN this morning, I started chatting with my friend's father about my trip to Guatemala. He tells me that he knows a couple in Columbus who have a foundation for helping people in Guatemala.
Long story short, I meet them. We spend several hours talking about the foundation - Seeds of Help. It's designed to assist the people of Guatemala through education and development programs and construction projects. I love that they follow the policy of teaching people how to fish instead of giving them fish to eat!
Tonight we talked about the organization, development efforts, and great ideas about how to move forward. I'm traveling back to Indiana in early September to continue talking with them about how the organization can grow and evolve.
Some people would say, "What an amazing coincidence!"
I say, "Everything happens for a reason!"
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
Waiting to hear from my agency
After spending almost a week in Guatemala, I know that it will be an honor to have life-long ties to that country! I have been doing some research on options to live & work there. Ideally, I'll find a way to live there in the summers so I can escape the Phoenix heat.
Realistically, it might be difficult to find a way to live & work there. Teaching might be an option. If I can get decent telecommunication and Internet connections, it might be easier to tele-commute with my clients.
I also contacted my agency to ask if it would be possible for me to live in Guatemala with my child(ren) during the adoption process. I'm waiting to hear from them.
Now it's just a matter of time as the details get worked out.
Realistically, it might be difficult to find a way to live & work there. Teaching might be an option. If I can get decent telecommunication and Internet connections, it might be easier to tele-commute with my clients.
I also contacted my agency to ask if it would be possible for me to live in Guatemala with my child(ren) during the adoption process. I'm waiting to hear from them.
Now it's just a matter of time as the details get worked out.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
Another great day
What a quick trip! I talked with one of the missionaries today about the safest place in Guatemala for a single woman to live. She said Antigua.
Glad that was her suggestion because I love being in Antigua. We went there again today, and it was still a fun place to explore. Once I am fluent in Spanish, it will be even better!
Several people are extending their trips through the weekend. As much as I love being here, I'm ready to go home. I plan to return SOON for another visit and/or live and/or....
Glad that was her suggestion because I love being in Antigua. We went there again today, and it was still a fun place to explore. Once I am fluent in Spanish, it will be even better!
Several people are extending their trips through the weekend. As much as I love being here, I'm ready to go home. I plan to return SOON for another visit and/or live and/or....
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Sarah Can See!
The highlight of my day was holding a 2 year old little girl before her eye exam. Okay, that's not quite true - holding her before her exam was only the second best highlight of my day.
Watching her expression when she could see was the HIGHLIGHT of my day!
Just to prove that God knows what He's doing.... this little one has terrible vision (+2.00/+3.00) and she's tiny. Kevin searched through his bag of child glasses and found a perfect pair of glasses with the exact prescription she needed.
As soon as she was wearing them, she smiled & laughed. I waved at her, and she waved back. The pigtails in her hair were bobbing all around as she looked around her.
I told her family (through the interpreter) about my brother. When he was fitted with glasses, he was fascinated that there were holes in his crackers. He hadn't seen them before he had glasses. I told them to expect lots of excitement and happiness as she explored her new world.
Regardless of the travel woes and tensions, today's experience with little Sarah made my entire trip worthwhile!!
Watching her expression when she could see was the HIGHLIGHT of my day!
Just to prove that God knows what He's doing.... this little one has terrible vision (+2.00/+3.00) and she's tiny. Kevin searched through his bag of child glasses and found a perfect pair of glasses with the exact prescription she needed.
As soon as she was wearing them, she smiled & laughed. I waved at her, and she waved back. The pigtails in her hair were bobbing all around as she looked around her.
I told her family (through the interpreter) about my brother. When he was fitted with glasses, he was fascinated that there were holes in his crackers. He hadn't seen them before he had glasses. I told them to expect lots of excitement and happiness as she explored her new world.
Regardless of the travel woes and tensions, today's experience with little Sarah made my entire trip worthwhile!!
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Visiting Antigua
Today we toured a coffee plantation and then went to the market at Antigua. My shopping self took over, and I had a great time!
Of course, I could have bargained better. I must admit that it takes me some time to warm up to negotiate appropriately.
The first item I bought was a baby sling. Nellie showed me how to wrap the cloth around my body and fit the baby inside it. Just holding the fabric made me smile & shiver.
When we went to Nim Pot (another market area), I met a couple in the process of adopting two baby girls. They are actually living in Guatemala with their girls while they wait for the court to finish its processing.
Their girls are currently 10 months old and 3.5 months old. Their names are Maya and Alia, and my immediate thought was "wow, combine their names and you get Malia"
This morning as we were driving, I spoke with Fontaine about working in Guatemala. He said the American schools are always in need of people to teach. They pay well and provide a place to live. The school year is January through October.
Perhaps I can arrange to be my baby's foster mom. I can teach and we can live together here.
That's an idea worth pursuing.....
Of course, I could have bargained better. I must admit that it takes me some time to warm up to negotiate appropriately.
The first item I bought was a baby sling. Nellie showed me how to wrap the cloth around my body and fit the baby inside it. Just holding the fabric made me smile & shiver.
When we went to Nim Pot (another market area), I met a couple in the process of adopting two baby girls. They are actually living in Guatemala with their girls while they wait for the court to finish its processing.
Their girls are currently 10 months old and 3.5 months old. Their names are Maya and Alia, and my immediate thought was "wow, combine their names and you get Malia"
This morning as we were driving, I spoke with Fontaine about working in Guatemala. He said the American schools are always in need of people to teach. They pay well and provide a place to live. The school year is January through October.
Perhaps I can arrange to be my baby's foster mom. I can teach and we can live together here.
That's an idea worth pursuing.....
Monday, July 2, 2007
I'm here & it feels surreal!
Just arrived in Guatemala! It's amazing to actually be here. Not sure what to expect or what will happen over the next few days.
Everywhere I turned in the last few weeks, I met someone who has adopted or who knows someone who adopted from Guatemala. It also seems like everywhere I go, I see a family with Guatemalan children.
More tomorrow after we visit Antigua
Everywhere I turned in the last few weeks, I met someone who has adopted or who knows someone who adopted from Guatemala. It also seems like everywhere I go, I see a family with Guatemalan children.
More tomorrow after we visit Antigua
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)