I love Moe's!

Tonight Daddy, Me and Isabella Faye went to one of mine and Daddy's favorite restaurants, Moe's. She loved it! Kids eat free on Tuesday's so I was pretty happy too! :- )

She munched like crazy, including eating...singing...dancing...and babbling to anyone who would listen! This girl loves to eat out!

IF "helping" Mommy

Today I set out to put up Christmas decorations. Any of you who have met IF are laughing right now, understanding that I didn't get much done! But we got the decor in the kitchen and living room and I will work on the bathroom when I get done with this post. (Yes, I deco my bathroom for Christmas!) The rest can wait until tomorrow...or when Daddy brings up the tree from the basement!

Here are some pictures of IF "helping" me unpack boxes of decor!

I praise God and marvel that I am actually about to celebrate Christmas with my beautiful daughter. As we grieve the absence of Papaw this Christmas, we celebrate IF's first Christmas at home with us! Oh the wonder of a child at Christmas! She has touched and kissed and played with every item I've unpacked! She has danced around the house-catching my enthusiasm over the coming event. Oh how I love this beautiful girl!

A few pics

Here's a few pics of sweet girl over the last few days!


Reading with Aunt K

At the pediatrician for a well visit!

Playing outside

Playing with Gramps!

Welcome Home!

Aunt K took these and sent them to me! She and her boys and our mutual friend "Nay Nay" met us at the airport. The boys were so sweet with thier signs! Aunt K also snapped this wonderful picture of Daddy and Daughter!

Catching Up!

Here are some scenes from IF's first night at home. I have printed copies of her homecoming which I will have to scan. I'll do that as soon as I can...but scanning involves going to Aunt Di's office and that is easier said then done!

Where Have I Been?

Beth has asked me to enter a note explaining her absence from her blog this week. She has no internet access right now. It should be fixed soon, however it hasn't been a priority with everything else going on this week.

Isabella Faye is adjusting well. She has a cold but she is happy and enjoying her new home. She's becoming quite the Daddy's Girl and John LOVES it.

Love,
Betsy

Isabella Faye "helps" Mommy pack!

After saying goodbye to Nana today, there is so much I have to say. But I'm so very emotional, I'm not ready. I want you to pray for her and her family and friends who love Isabella Faye. Their love is pure and deep. Nana, I love you so much!

Hubby shared with me today that Isabella's Papaw showed some small improvement! Please pray for his complete healing...this side of Heaven.

Here are some shots of Isabella helping me pack! I'll post more tomorrow!

Our new friends and a party!!

This afternoon we had the pleasure of Meeting Kate and Maya. Kate is adopting Maya and her case is stuck in PGN. Maya is a precious, beautiful baby who turned one year old today. We got to attend her party complete with a cake from Jamie (the Raddison employee who God sent as an angel on earth to assist Kate and us on this trip) and presents that we rounded up (Isabella Faye gave her crab rattle and a onsie to Maya and it just so happened that the new shoes that didn't fit IF, did fit the birthday girl!

Please pray for precious Maya that God will guide her case to completion very soon.

Much on my heart...

Today we went to Antigua (which I love) with our wonderful angel Henry (more on him later) and Nana Janeth, Jenifer and Abby. We had a wonderful day! We saw a coffee plantation and learned (from the owner!!) all about the process. Grammie and Nana sampled some coffee and I took their word for it!! (I don't like coffee!) But, we got Daddy some coffee and we can tell him just how and where it was made!

Then we went to the market! Oh...the market! It is wall-to-wall stuff! We got some souvenirs for friends and family and I learned a thing or two about bargaining!

After that we toured two amazing churches. Both were damaged by earthquakes. I love church buildings. I know that God is everywhere...but there is just something sacred, holy and right about a church. Oh these two, even in their altered states were exquisite. There was much on my mind today. I think almost constantly of my father-in-law so very, very sick and getting worse with still no diagnosis, so no real course of treatment. I think of my husband, who needs us to be home, with him...to comfort him. I think of Nana and her family as they have to say goodbye to Isabella Faye, who they love like their own. I worry about how expensive this adoption has been. I think of this journey...all the angels along the way. From all my dear new friends, to the bond that has grown even deeper with old friends, to all the miracles along the way, the ups and downs, the tears and laughter...and I am overwhelmed. So, in one of the churches, in the sacred home of countless worshipers, believers in our great God and his miracles, as the others looked around, I took a quick moment to ask for a few of my own! To the Lord I said, "please fix it all."
In that simple prayer, I asked for healing of my father-in-law on this side of Heaven, for my husband to feel my love and strength from afar, for perfect peace that passes all understanding for Nana and her family, for financial blessings to pay all this off and forgiveness for any financial shortcomings in our life, for blessings on all who have made this adoption journey easier, for my daughter, my laughing, smiling, high-tempered, energetic, funny, ketchup-eating daughter, named for my Mother!

I am forever changed by this day, which was so much more than just a site-seeing adventure. I thank God for Nana and her family. I got to watch Abby and Jenifer today with Isabella Faye and they adore her. They are so kind and respectful, caring and funny. I wish I could take them all home with me! Watching Nana and the girls with Isabella today, I found myself thinking of what it means to be a Christian. Surely giving her whole heart to a child you know is leaving, knowing your heart is gonna break but with reckless abandon loving them anyway, is what Jesus had in mind when he taught about love. I am in awe of their selfless, perfect love for my child. May we all strive to love with their abandon.

Embassy Day and a wonderful visit with Nana!

Okay...today was Embassy Day and I envisioned a beautiful room full of plush furniture and toys galore...reality check...it was like the Social Security Office...except with more crying! :- )

Considering the 3 hours UTTER CHAOS...sweet girl did well. She ran and I chased some...she napped and I rocked some...she pooped and HOLY MACKEREL...I let Nana Janeth change her!!!!

Then we came back to the hotel and visited with Nana and had such a good time! And, Nana got her to sleep! God bless you Nana! Mommy and Grammie got some much needed rest as she only slept 2 hours last night!

Okay, she is asleep now, so I have to go to bed too!

The power of ice cream!

23 hours until forever!

Isabella Faye is coming home!!!!

Isabella Faye is coming home! Our Embassy appointment is Monday morning! Isabella's Visa will be issued on Wednesday and we will fly home on Thursday morning. John and Isabella will meet and we will become a forever family on that blessed day!

We are so thankful-beyond words. Our God is so great and loves us so very much. Praise Him from whom all blessings flow! All the glory and praise goes to Him!

Thank you to all of you who have been a part of our journey to Isabella Faye. Thanks for all your prayers, comments, donations and all you've done!

I don't know how much blogging I'll get done in the next two days (I'm leaving on Saturday) but stay tuned for updates and pictures from Guatemala!

As you take time tonight to praise God for Isabella's homecoming, please also remember my father-in-law. I stood at his bedside tonight and told him our news. I want to believe that somehow, he heard me and drew strength from my voice and this wonderful news. I love him so much and I want Isabella to know him as I do.

Pray for IF's Papaw

Please pray.

My Father-in-law is very sick in ICU, please pray for God to heal him. He has become so much more than just my father-in-law, he has become MY father. I love him so very much. He is so kind...so good. He will be such a good "Papaw" to sweet girl. Pray that he will see drastic recovery by the time we are home with her.

Sweet girl shows off her chompers!