My new blog header and sweet Giovanni

Notice the beautiful new blog header? That's all due to my dear friend and prayer partner Amy. Amy and her husband and their bio kids adopted their adorable and hilarious daughter and sister Samantha from Guatemala and are in the process of adopting sweet Giovanni, who just turned 2. Please pray for Giovanni's case to come out of PGN so he can come home to his wonderful family!

My little stinker!

Look at that face! Little stinker has taken to pulling out her hair bows...but who could get mad at a face like that? This little girl is gonna have us wrapped around her finger! Oh the love I have for her! I just look at a picture and my heart feels like it could burst with joy! When I go see her I'm wild with excitement for weeks before I leave. On the day of-of my! I'm a nut! Last Saturday, while waiting for Nana Janeth and Papa Freddie to drop her off, I sat on the stoop of the bed and breakfast and giggled!

Oh my this PRECIOUS picture!

Has there every been a cuter picture of sweet girl!?!?!?!

I love that Nana Janeth! She is so wonderful to send us pictures. I just love her so much! John is always saying "That Nana is something else!" We are so blessed!

Happy weekend!

Love you guys,

Beth

A picture is worth a thousand words!

Your third tidbit of sweet girl from my visit trip...

You may not be able to tell it by this picture but sweet girl is standing up.

Now, able to stand so well on her own, one would think she could walk...and she can, along the wall, holding onto furniture, etc. She can zoom around holding on to things.

But, when there's nothing to hold onto...

Picture this:

She gets up on her knees in front of me. I'm sitting on the floor, my leg stretched out in front of me. She places her hands on my leg and pushes herself to a standing position. There's one problem though, her legs are too far apart! So, she slings up her arms, palms outward like a field commander at the biggest band competition of the year and tries to keep her balance. She wobbles but quickly steadies herself. Then she looks down from leg to leg as though surmising her problem. She sighs. At this point, I reach out to take her hand to help her. She pushes my hand away, then slaps it-and yells at me. Something vaguely familiar...did I hear the boys in the back of Spanish 100 class snickering and whispering that...did she just cuss me in Spanish? Without my help, she makes an exaggerated move to bring one leg in. There's quite a clomp but she manages and then proceeds to bring in the other leg. At this point she's ready to take a step. She looks down, again surmising the situation. Mmmmmm she mutters. And-the step...like a Rockette in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade...and the fall...headlong into my now shaking because I'm laughing so hard-arms. A few kisses and giggles later she decides sitting my lap will work just fine. So for the next hour...that's exactly what we do!

Oh how I love this girl!

FFF-Back to school

This week's Favorite Foto Friday theme is Back to School. Sweet girl isn't in school yet, of coarse, so I thought I'd post a picture of her cousins-who went back this week. This is "baseball's" first year and he is loving it...although his Mommy and I are a little sad to see this sweetie growing up!

For more FFF fun check out Sarah's blog at kissthefrog4me.blogspot.com!

To my sweet girl...

My precious girl,

I love you more than I can ever describe. I am awed that God loves me so much to entrust your care to me! What an honor to be your Mommy! Your Daddy and I talk about you every day! He asks me all about what you do and what your like. I tell him every memory of every visit trip. We watch video of you over and over again. You are our dream come true. You're our reward for a life of trusting God and proclaiming Him!
I never knew love like this-so deep, so pure. I would give my life for you. I will always love you, always be here for you.

Happy, happy birthday my sweet, sweet girl. I love you!

Mommy

Happy Birthday PARTY!

Look at that face! Notice the t-shirt! I left that for her and sweet Nana made sure she wore it today!
Checking out her radio!
Talking to me on the phone. She was hysterical! Every time I said something she would jabber back at me! I'd talk and she'd jabber right back like she knew exactly what I was saying! It was so perfect! I laughed and laughed! This went on for three or four minutes! What a precious baby!


Wearing one shoe that I took for her birthday. She doesn't like to keep shoes and socks on!
Sweet girl sitting with her radio and penguin. Nana says she love to dance with her radio.
What a wonderful spread! Nana used the table cloth, plates, napkins and cups I sent and got this adorable Tiger cake! Notice the purple 1 candle!
Sweet girl digging in!

I don't know why God didn't intervene and heal my stomach so I could stay in Guatemala this week to be there for IF's b-day. But I trust Him. I know He sees the big picture. I also know that He gave us this foster family who sent over 30 pictures of our beautiful daughter to commemorate this day.
And my "conversation" with my sweet girl! Oh what a miracle! Hearing her precious little voice-God's gift to me!
I came home from Guatemala with a heavy heart. I spent many moments in tears-wracked with guilt and sorrow. But my sweet husband, and my Great God and some dear friends helped me understand that I did what was best for IF by realizing I was too sick to care for her and calling Nana. But still, I was in deep sorrow, so sad I was missing her birthday-but then this phone call and these pictures! God is so good and He loves me so very much!

Your second tidbit of sweet girl from my visit trip...

See my block? I'm about to wiz it at Mommy's head! I LOVE to throw toys at Mommy!

Happy 1st Birthday!

Happy, Happy Birthday sweet girl!

Today is Isabella Faye's birthday. She will be one. Her foster family will be celebrating her birthday this afternoon and will send pictures when the celebration is over.

I also plan to call and "talk" to Isabella Faye and wish her a happy birthday. With any luck she'll "talk" back but usually when she had the phone to her ear she just listens!

I let her have some of her presents early when I was visiting but the big ones she will get today. I can't wait to see pictures of her playing with them. I had so much fun shopping for her!

John and I will also be celebrating with a birthday cake in her honor at home tonight. And, when she gets home we are going to have a huge late birthday/welcome home celebration.

Stay tuned this evening for birthday pictures.

Please pray for us today also, as we are not with her on her b-day. As you know, I had to cut my visit short due to sickness and Hubby couldn't go because of the start of school. We miss her so and hate to miss this special day. But, sweet Nana Janeth reminded me that we will have a lifetime of celebrations with our sweet girl.

I'm so thankful for Nana and her crew of Isabella Faye fans!

Pray also for friends Amy and Chris and their daughter Mya. She turns one today as well. Unfortunately, due to some ridiculous setbacks and hold-ups, they are much behind where they should be in the process. My heart breaks for them today and I ask for your prayers for them today and that the rest of their process to bringing Mya home is swift!

Love you guys,

Beth

Your first tidbit of sweet girl from my visit trip!

Feel like my insides are gonna make a guest appearance on the keyboard so I'll have to post more later!

Love you guys,

Beth

(Be sure to pause the player at the bottom of the page so you can hear her!)

Catching up

I have much to catch up on! Let's start with last Wednesday...

I was pretty sick. I had canceled a morning babysitting job but had kept my afternoon one, thinking I would feel better. I was rocking the little baby and trying to dose while he slept. Well, out of my half-asleep stooper I heard the phone ring. I picked it up to answer it and right as I pushed "talk" I saw the name on the caller ID "Celebrate Children." Oh my gosh! It was our adoption agency! I tried to make small talk with our director but my voice was unsteady and would hardly come out! My mind was reeling and I couldn't think! I look back and laugh becuase I must have sounded so crazy! But finally, the news I'd been waiting for-our case had been approved by the PGN! PGN is the government agency in Guat. in charge of approving adoptions. Praise the Lord! This is the news we've been waiting for! Now we just wait for the new birth certificate with us listed as her parents and our last name and the 2nd DNA test (her mouth will be swabbed, they don't have to draw blood.) Then we'll get an appointment at the US Embassy with about a week's notice-book our flight, pack our bags and off to get our sweet girl and BRING HER HOME! All told this could take from 5-12 weeks.

Now on to Saturday. I left bright and early on Saturday morning to go visit my sweet girl for her birthday. She arrived that afternoon all smiles and laughter. We played and played and played some more! On Sunday we got up and went out and about in Antigua. She loved being outdoors and all the sights, sounds and smells of this beautiful land. We ate and explored and had a wonderful time! About 8 that night I threw up and it went downhill from there. I threw up for most of the night and by the time by beautiful baby woke up the next morning I was weak, disoriented and tired. I knew I couldn't give her the care she needed and being by myself, there was no one to call to help while I rested and got better. So, I had to call her foster mom to come back and get her. We had a wonderful visit with our foster mom and her friends. My sweet girl gave me the gift of a wonderful goodbye which I'll share more about when I'm feeling better.

Now I'm home and recovering from dehydration. But, I'm still quite tired and this has worn me out.

I'll post the pictures I've got when I get my camera cord to work!

Tagged!

My friend Becky tagged me for my Brilliante Weblog Award. I have to answer the following questions and tag 7 of my blogger friends.



A. Attached or single? Attached



B. Best friend? My sweet Hubby of coarse!



C. Cake or pie? CAKE...CHOCOLATE!!



D. Day of choice? I'm just working like a dog every day! Maybe when IF gets home, I will love Saturdays!



E. Essential item? Computer



F. Favorite color? Black



G. Gummy bears or worms? Only if it would speed the adoption!



H. Hometown? Morgantown, KY



I. Indulgence? Good chocolate



J. January or July? January I hate summer clothes.



K. Kids? 1. Isabella Faye-waiting to come home from Guatemala



L. Life isn’t complete without? God, my husband, my daughter



M. Marriage date? December 20, 2004



N. Number of brothers & sisters? none



O. Oranges or apples? green apples



P. Phobias? snakes, spiders, bugs, heights, dirt, sweat :-)



Q. Quotes?



R. Reasons to smile? Just got back from visiting my sweet IF!



S. Season of choice? Winter



T. Tag seven peeps! (see below)



U. Unknown fact about me? I do my best praying in the shower (as Susannah calls my "Prayer Tank.")



V. Vegetable? Potato



W. Worst habits? eating!



X. X-ray or ultrasound? Ultrasound



Y. Your favorite food? CHEESE!



I have to tag 7 of my blogger friends...



1. http://www.journeytojenda.blogspot.com/

2. http://carrfamilyjourney2.blogspot.com/

3. http://www.ourjourneytojoshua.blogspot.com/

4. http://candiclark.blogspot.com/

5.http://lauriekeen.blogspot.com/

6.http://lifeofzeekandbrandy.blogspot.com/

7. http://robbinscentral.blogspot.com/

Z. Zodiac sign? I don't know! My b-day is June 4...I'll go Google it...Okay, Gemini

Sick!

4 days til I leave and I've got the crud! Please pray for my recovery!

Love ya!

FFF

Today's Favorite Foto Friday theme is crazy hair! If doesn't really have enough hair yet for it to be crazy but one thing about her hair that sure does make me giggle is her bows. I took several down on my last visit and she wore one everyday. Nana Janeth puts them in often too! Oh they just crack me up! The other day I found a couple great stores online to buy bows

alexisbowtique.com (bows for $1) and mybowstore.com (bows 2 for 1 with one only $2.00) and Grandma has been trying her hand at making bows. Needless to say I'll have plenty to take on my next visit!

Here's a couple pics of sweet girl in some of her bows.

To get in on the FFF fun, check out Sarah's blog kissthefrog4me@blogspot.com.