the bus was delayed, tuk tuks and spiders

What a day! The latest is that the bus that was supposed to deliver our VID (very important documents :) today, was delayed. Soooo, we need to pray that the bus makes it to Guatemala City tomorrow morning at 8, when it's due. That will still give our facilitator enough time to re-submit our new (and improved) docs to Civil Registry, before noon which is when CR closes for submission of docs. Then we need to wait for the new BC's to be issued. So, we shall see.

Today was our first tuk tuk ride! I can't believe i've been in Antigua for over 4 months and today was my first time. Do you know what a tuk tuk is??


















Antigua is invaded by the three-wheeled motorbike taxis. They remind me of golf carts, that have diesel fumes blowing in your face as you drive. Taxi drivers hate them, claiming that the Tuk-tuks steal their passengers. The locals love them because they are cheaper than ordinary taxis. Oh and have i mentioned the streets here are cobblestone -- makes for a very bumpy ride :) Most of the drivers have no concept of precious cargo... meaning altho we had to two girls on our laps in the back of our tuk tuk today, don't you worry that didn't slow our driver down :)






This is the parade we got stuck behind on our ride. It probably would have ended up being just as quick to walk, but oh well :)

Tonight my husband cracked me up (and renewed my gratefulness of him being here) when he came out of the bathroom, asking for "something to kill a spider". Now, I'm from Chicago and i will admit we really don't have very big spiders back home. So, maybe this seems like no biggie to you, but to us Chicagoans -- yuck. I'll spare you details, because thankfully Matt spared me so therefore, I don't have any to share.. but this is what I saw on the camera when he finally emerged from the bathroom!

Miracles

"He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." Job 5:9

These verses about sum it up! So, does anyone want to pray with us for a MIRACLE -- if anyone can do it, it's OUR GOD! here's the latest with our adoption case.

Our Guatemalan facilitator should have all the fixed/new documents needed to re-submit for our girls' new Birth Certificates on Wednesday. After we get the new BC's we need to get passports for the babies. In order to beat our fingerprints expiring on July 22, we MUST be submitted to the US Embassy for our Visa Appointment on MONDAY, July 16. It currently takes 72 hrs for the US Embassy to issue a Visa Appointment, and they are typically scheduled for 10 days - 2 wks out. I have a contact at the Embassy who said he would be willing to do what he could to get us our appointment by Friday, July 19. If one step is delayed, or any more problems are encountered...

well, we won't make it home in time.

Therefore, Daddy will come home by himself and the girls and I will have to wait here in Guatemala for our new fingerprints to be processed. The estimated processing time is currently 2 mos.



















SOOO.. who wants to pray these baby girls home (by NEXT Friday :D

Our adoption has been filled with miracles... how about ONE more??














"You are the God who preforms miracles; you display your power among the peoples." Ps. 77:14 (NIV)

yay, for Saturdays

Even tho, there is no progress being made on our adoption on Saturdays, there is now a reason to not wish them over quickly! Daddy is here, and of course he gets to hang out all day with us, on the weekends!! We had tons of fun today...

We met this clown on the streets....



















and each of the girls got a balloon animal from him!



































Then we went out to eat lunch with some of our friends, one of whom gets to go home on Monday (finally!) after being in Antigua for over 7 mos.








































We got to play on the playground in back for a while.

























































And to finish off our fun Saturday Daddy took us on a horse-drawn carriage ride! The babies LOVE the horses and it was too much fun to see their faces!






























































YAY for Saturdays!

Miscellaneous

We took the girls swimming on Daddy's day off, the 4th of July. The girls loved blowing bubbles in the water, and even putting their mouths into the water.




On our way home, it poured (after all we are in the rainy season :0 Daddy got to see what it was like pushing the stroller thru the cobblestone streets in the pouring rain (not fun).
















"Squeaks'" new word is "baby", but she says it for everything other than her baby doll. They have been playing more with their baby dolls, giving them hugs and kisses.. too sweet.































I also caught them sharing the other day (we've been wking on this for a while). With two kids, sharing is something you really have to learn quickly.. but so far they are showing promise :)

Happy US Independence Day

The 4th of July means more to me this year than ever before. I had hoped in my heart that I'd be in the good 'ol US of A for it, but i'll just look forward to next year all the more.

After living in a 3rd world country for the past (almost) 4 months, I have been over and over again reminded of just how BLESSED we are to live in the United States of America. It brings tears to my eyes to think of all the men and women, who are right now, helping fight so that we can have the freedoms that we have in the US. This year on the 4th of July i think about how someday (hopefully soon) our girls will have the privilege of becoming US citizens. They will be able to grow up in a country where they can go to school, eat three full meals every day, pursue the passions and dreams God has given them, and will have a countless number of other opportunities that are taken for granted in America, but would not even be possible in Guatemala.

On this 4th of July, altho there are no fireworks, no one is wearing red, white and blue, and no cookouts or pool parties I am so thankful and celebrate in my heart!

oh the many faces of a 14 month old!

"hmm, i'm not so sure about this" (questioning face)















"time to par-tay!" (silly girl)















"I am not impressed" (unimpressed face)















(gasp) "look over there, it's not a mouse, is it?" (scared face)















"boo hoo, i am so upset" (sad face)















"don't look at me, i am innocent" (guilty as charged face)

and yes, our girls turn 14 mos old today!!! can you believe the avg. child adopted from Guatemala is still coming home between 6-8 mos old? So crazy. I couldn't be more thankful that i've been blessed to have not missed any of them growing up for the past 4 months. that is truly a blessing.

Unfortunately, no good news to report other than it looks like we are running out of options. Please pray for wisdom and that we can get this problem resolved.

Army Day

Ever heard of it? yeah, me neither.. but it's a holiday that was celebrated in Guatemala today, which basically means : no one was wking. So, we are praying and hoping for news/progress tomorrow. Please keep praying for this issue.

Daddy found a fun little friend for the girls yesterday, have i mentioned that our girls are animal lovers!?!?!