DATE: 09/25/2005 10:24:50 PM
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Well, it's Sunday night and I'm still here. Kyle went home today. He's probably not going to be working at his job past this week so he's at home trying to find leads on a new one. (he's been working for the same mission in Mississippi, just via the internet. They want to hire someone to work at the office there.)

So, I'm here waiting. However, if I'm going to have to wait longer than Friday, I'll have to just go home. We can't afford and I can't emotionally take, being away longer than that.

Please continue praying that everything will come together this week and I can go home.....with Eliana.

In the meantime, here are a couple of other pictures!
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Eliana in a moment of happiness!


"Enough with the pictures, Mom!"

DATE: 09/22/2005 03:51:36 PM
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Well, Kyle and I are in Guatemala now. I came down Monday and he came on Wednesday. We thought we'd be going home Saturday. But, as we've found out in the adoption process, nothing can go as planned.

We were supposed to get the infamous "pink slip" yesterday. It's basically permission from the US embassy to pick up the baby. However, as we waited at the embassy doctor for her final check up, we got the news that we didn't recieve it. A form that should have been sent from the USCIS office in New Orleans was never sent. So, we went on a wild goose chase this morning trying to track down this office. It's been evacuated and moved to Kentucky and all the files are still "en route." So, it will be at least Monday before anything can be done....meaning the earliest we can come home would be next Saturday. Possibly later.

Of course, as everyone has reminded me, this is the risk that you take when you come down before you get the "pink slip." I guess I just thought it woulnd't happen to us.

We know that nothing is impossible with God, and that, if He chooses, that form could show up without anyone doing anything. So, we're praying that a miracle takes place so we can come home sooner than expected. One of us will be going home on Sunday regardless.......we just have to choose who goes and who stays.

On a brighter note.....Ellie is doing wonderful. She's very happy (most of the time!) and so cute. We still can't believe that she will be home soon.

Here she is. Eliana Elisabeth Brogdon.



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DATE: 09/10/2005 10:48:55 PM
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Here is a more detailed (and more accurate) listing of what has to happen next with our adoption:

* The lawyer then meets the birth mother for the 4th and final sign-off.

* The adoption decree is then written and issued by the lawyer and the child is legally now the child of the adoptive family.

* A new birth certificate is then issued by the Civil Registry with the child�s first and middle names unchanged, but with the names of the adoptive parent(s).

* Lawyer takes new birth certificate and applies for a Guatemalan passport (although the child is adopted by US parents, he or she is still a Guatemalan citizen).

* All documents are translated into English by certified translators, as required by US INS regulations.

* Passport is issued.

* Child gets a visa photo done.

* Lawyer takes all the paperwork back to the Embassy, including the passport, your dossier, the Family Court findings, the adoption decree, the DNA results, all translations, and the visa photos, and requests approval for an orphan visa to enter the US.

* Embassy authorizes visa. This approval is on pink paper and is called the "pink slip". It is usually issued a day or two after submission of the documents.

* Child gets an exit physical by an Embassy-approved doctor (to make sure the child doesn�t have unrecognized handicapping conditions or infectious diseases). Note that this exam used to require prior embassy approval, but can now be done any time after the passport is issued, without prior approval of the embassy.

* You are told your case is complete and you travel to Guatemala (many people travel sooner but this is the "official" time when travel is recommended).

* The lawyer completes required INS and State Department forms for visa issuance and includes them in the document package along with the results from the exit physical.

* You -- often but not always accompanined by the lawyer or someone from their staff -- bring your child and all the papers back to the Embassy early one morning (Monday - Thursday only, no visas are issued on Fridays), come back the next afternoon for your visa and sealed packet of documents.

* Then you can go home.

Like I said..... a lot of little things have to happen. PLEASE pray with us that they happen in less than the quoted 3 week timeframe so my trip will be quick!

DATE: 09/10/2005 09:45:25 PM
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Wow. I'm on a roll tonight!

Noah had his 1st soccer game today. He was sooo cute. His uniform is the smallest size I could get and is still so much bigger than he is. Kyle was coerced into being a coach for this team, and has done the best he can do with 7 three year olds who would much rather run off the field than kick a ball around. It was sheer chaos most of the game, but still cute. Noah played well.........when he wanted to. If he didn't feel like playing right then, he'd just squat down and pull at the grass. Or wander around at the other end of the field while I yelled like a maniac "NOOOOAAAAHHHHH........GET THE BALL. NOOOOOAAAAHHHHH........RUN" He'd just look at me expressionless, look back at the ground and continue walking in circles.

Then all of a sudden, he'd take off running and kick the ball down the field. It was hilarious!

Lucas was supposed to have a game this afternoon, but it was canceled due to a gas leak. EEEKKK!

On a different note, I was in my bedroom today while Noah took a nap. All of a sudden I hear a crash and a scream. I run down the stairs to find little Noah lying at the bottom screaming! He had woken up, and tripped going down the stairs. Scared me to death! He has a HUGE knot on his head, but I guess he's alright. He's been running around all night.

Oh the traumas of childhood.
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Noah's in his (way too big) soccer uniform!


Noah when he didn't feel like playing...........


And Noah when he did feel like playing (he's #3)

DATE: 09/10/2005 09:37:20 PM
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Lucas' 5th birthday was on Wednesday. As hard as we tried to make the day a joyous celebration, it just wasn't the same. He was so confused by the "you were born on this day, but we'll have a party on Saturday" concept.

He woke up this morning and came into my room and said "Today is my other birthday!!!!" He was so excited all day.

His party went well.....as well as can be expected with 8 kids under the age of 5! It was quite noisy, but they all had a great time. He decided a while back to have a "bug party." I had to be creative to make it boy-ish. Have you tried to find boy bug stuff recently? You'd think it'd be a piece of cake. Stereotypically speaking, girls have never been quite fond of bugs. But, for some reason, anything buggy recently has tones of pink and yellow, cute little ladybugs and dragonflies.

Our search for creepy slimy bugs wasn't very successful, but I did find a few things. Enough to have a bug hunt in the backyard and make a few bug crafts. We had "dirt cake" (crushed oreos layered with a pudding/cream cheese mixture) instead of traditional b-day cake. He loved it.

And the look on his face was priceless all afternoon. I guess there are some things money just can't buy. (Sorry I had to steal that from Mastercard!)
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The infamous dirt cake!


One more picture! He's wearing his soccer jersey, by the way. We don't normally dress him in shiny teal green shirts! Ha!

DATE: 09/10/2005 09:26:14 PM
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We got word on Friday that our case came out of the Guatemala court system (PGN) on Thursday. What does this mean in real words?

The birthmother will have her final sign off. A new birth certificate will be requested from the city she was born in with her birth name and our last name on it.

Once our attorney receives that, she will then take all the paperwork she has to the US embassy. They will then translate the documents and issue a passport and "pink slip", in other words, permission to travel. We are then able to take her to the embassy doctor for her final visit, the US embassy to get her visa, then home!

All this should take about 3 weeks.

I am headed down on the 19th to stay for the duration. If it's a week, great. If it's 2 weeks, ok. I'm nervous about leaving the boys behind, but very excited about seeing our new baby girl! I'll be staying in an apartment in Antigua. A town 45 min. outside of Guatemala City, known for it's beauty and history. Many adoptive parents stay here while fostering their children. I can't wait.

Please pray for us in the next few weeks. A lot of little things have to happen before we can bring Ellie home for good. Pray that our "pink slip" is issued in record time and I'll only have to be away from the rest of the family for a few days!

We'll keep you posted!
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Ellie a month ago while we were visiting.



Not the best picture, but the most recent one we received in an update.

Just testing

Just testing this to make sure it's still working. thinking about moving my most recent blog back over to this page.