Plans

Hi.

So my plan for 2010 is to get back to the blogging.

Or to stop the blogging entirely.

Because this "oh, no I forgot to blog and I'm feeling some guilt" is for the birds.

(What the heck does for the birds mean?)

We'll see.

***

Thank you so much for your prayers and emails concerning La P.  This crazy, unknown journey would be so much more difficult if we were going at it alone.

Our faith has been strengthened by your faith.

Here's pretty much where we are today.

Which could change in, like, 3 minutes.  By the time I hit "publish" we'll seriously probably be working on another plan.

But at this moment....

La P is not adoptable.  Which is sort of a good thing.

Guatemala is soon to be re-opening adoptions.  If I understand things correctly (which is honestly not very likely) the new! improved! adoption rules will not allow a family to "choose" their child.  The next family on the list will be given the next child on the list. Make sense?  

The only way to go around that is to have an established & well documented relationship with a particular child.

Well, yeah.

We've got that.

But whose to say what an established & well documented relationship is by definition...?

So.

We are proceeding with attempting to obtain a medical visa.  We have letters from American doctors.  We have a letter from a Guatemalan doctor.  We have a judge who has seemed to look upon the situation favorably. But that judge will be retiring soon.  

And I don't know if you've noticed, but things don't seem to move very fast in Guatemala.

Once she is here on a medical visa and is receiving medical care, we will attempt to have her declared adoptable.

Hopefully, the fact that she has, um, lived with us and we've provided her medical care will be an established and well documented relationship.  You'd think.

The obvious ginormous risk is that it won't work.  That we'll have to send her back.

I cannot go there right now.

I know that it is a possibility.  That's as far as I can process.

I just know that we are willing to take the risk.

Please pray for any person that is making decisions regarding La P.  Pray that they will see past red tape and rules and laws and precedents and see the needs of this beautiful child.

***

Now.

Changing the subject entirely.

Does anyone need a cat for Christmas?

Y'all know I love my cats.

But we currently have FOUR CATS in our house.

And that's a few too many.

The Princess can't bear to give the kittens away.  Once the vet said, "they think you are their mother"...she was hooked.

Fat & Chester don't love being big brothers.

 

The Princess and I will only give them to families that will love them as much as we do.

The King's standards are somewhat lower.

They are declawed, so they need to be indoor kitties. 

They are fixed. 

I can't ever remember which gets spayed and which gets neutered. 

If you live in our area and are interested in one or both, or know someone who might be interested, let me know.

And please don't email me telling me I'm a bad pet owner.  I have an immense amount of guilt.  It will have to be a great situation for the cats for us to be ok with it.

(Read between the lines:  This is a decree of The King.)

Comments

[Mrs. Oh]

Aww we just got a new baby kitty last weekish. And as for LaP. Lord would think the governments involved would be grateful that a loving family is wanting to adopt this or any child for that matter. It should not be this difficult BUT in the end it will just make you appreciate it more. I'll keep y'all in my prayers that sense will prevail.

[Heather]

Oh my goodness! I am praying, praying, praying! And my faith has definitely been strengthened by the love you all have for LaP and the steps you are taking to bring her home. I don't always understand the paths we must take to bring our family together, but...

And don't even get my started on Guatemala reopening for adoption...to say many tears have been shed in this house (900 children waiting to have their adoptions completed!!!) is an understatement. The slowness and the politics/greed of it all just makes me crazy!!

[Robyn (3GirlsMom)]

I would take one or both of those cats in a NEW YORK MINUTE except for the fact that my 4 year old would have to move out. Her allergies to cats won't let us have one. And I pretty much like her a lot, so I think she should stay. :)

As for LaP, I am still braceletless but still praying. I still believe with everything in me that she is yours. I'm claiming that for all of you.

[justanotherdayinparadise]

I have a theory on the guilt thing: We feel guilt because we're women (and especially, because we're Southern women). I often feel guilty for feeling guilty. . .explain that one.

I will be praying. I cannot imagine how emotionally draining this must be for you. You must have an exceptional amount of faith right now, because I'll admit it, I would be a bundle of nerves. . .oh, and there's that whole guilt thing about feeling nervous and not being faithful. . .

Kady's allergic to cats, so we can't help you there. Sorry, I wish we could. . .totally trying not to feel guilty about this too. . .

[Lindsay @ Bytes of Memory]

praying for the palace and La P! I hope you find nice homes for the cats.. I live far away and have a dog that would eat them :-P

[Kelly @ Love Well]

Oh B. Praying.

[Angie]

I haven't commented in a while, but just want you to know I'm still reading and praying when I do. Hoping you know His peace as you await His plans.

[Dana Jones]

I would take one, I really would! But steve is allergic to the one I already have and I think I'd have to say goodbye to my husband if I brought another one home!

Prayers for LaP and for what it's worth (coming from a total stranger you've never met before), you are showing her more love than she has ever known. And she recognizes that too.

[Tammy]

Continued prayers.....

[RLR]

Please keep up the blog - even if it's sporadic. My posting is not as frequent as it used to be, either. That's just life!
Still praying for La P - that she will become yours forever!

[Kayren]

You continue to be in my prayers. I'm glad you kept us posted when the King was in Guatemala.

I don't know if you remember me mentioning my daughter that wants to be a misssionary. It was back when you were so hesitant about going to Guatemala the first time. Well, you said to pray you through that and you'd help pray me through her later. She just turned 16 and she's going to be going to Togo, West Africa, the last week of February. Without either of us. She will have a lady that does regular short-term missions trips as her chaperone. She will even be flying to JFK with her. Still a scary prospect. I haven't posted about it on my blog yet but thought I'd mention it to you. And I guess anyone else who happens to read your comments.

Okay, still praying God's will for your family and La P.

[michele]

Please don't stop blogging.. you always make me laugh!

We're praying for you guys....

You're not a bad pet owner, just being reasonable and loving your husband more than the cats (it's hard sometimes...)

[Tonggu Momma]

Still praying about this... and - about the kittens - what? you can ship them via air mail? I'm sure the King would agree to that plan.

[Erin]

I am praying for your family....a lot about adoption is always two steps forward and three steps back (we adopted through our state foster care system) so I can understand exactly how you are feeling.

And for the kitties - how in the world could you feel guilty? You have them declawed and fixed and are giving them to a good home - you are an awesome pet owner! I have two already and discovered this summer that my husband is allergic, but I know you will find a wonderful family for them!

[Kara @ Me-Moddy]

Wow. I think I say that at the beginning of most of my comments on here, but there is always so much info to digest. I pray the situation with La P's adoption will unfold in God's timing because good grief! there are so many reasons to see how God's hand is in this relationship with this little girl and I am still very excited to see how it will come together. I pray you don't stop blogging because I only read a few now and I always enjoy yours so much, but I also know that it really isn't fun anymore when you just feel guilty about it instead of looking forward to posting. You should definitely do whatever is best for you. I hope you have a great Christmas and that your little cats can find a good home. :-)

[kristen@nst]

I check back all the time to see how y'all are doing. I hope and pray that things work out with La P. I cannot imagine the emotion of being in your shoes. Remember, you are doing God's work.

[rrmama]

Still praying and hoping that your Christmas is filled with loved ones and wonderful memories!

[Kristin Stratos]

Pleeeeeeeease keep blogging and don't feel guilty when you don't! I enjoy your posts and pray every day for LaP, the bracelet I got from your daughter stretched until it fell off and I had my entire house looking for it! I was sick, we had to find it.... and we did, so it is on my vanity mirror so I see it every morning and say a prayer for y'all! I hope an angel will find his way to y'all and help you in this journey! XOXO

[Janel]

I'll keep praying! I'd love a cat but Hubby is allergic and oh, I live in NC so that might be hard!

Merry Christmas!