FAMILY!
Above and beyond our roller-coaster politics and discussions about what the US and Guatemala should do to become Hague compliant...there is the BLESSING of FAMILY. Last week, my daughter's school had a Thanksgiving Feast and invited all the families to enjoy the food, socializing and of course, the Thanksgiving SKIT!After the skit for my daughter's class, her teacher asked each of the children what they were thankful for.. I suspect that it wasn't totally prompted since 3 of the boys chose "Pizza" as their answer. When my daughter stood up and said "Mom, Dad and Max [our dog]"....I felt a mix of emotions. Something that can easily be taken for granted is such a complex and often contraversial part of an adoptive family's life.
So, for this post....I am going to avoid talking about the negativity, politics and so-on. I just want to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and urge each of you to pray (send good vibes if you are not religious) for the concept of "FAMILY" to become the key factor for any decision made in the interest of a child....
Posted by Kelly at November 20, 2006 12:09 PMI think Kelly is right we need to remember that Family is an important thing to be thankful for. We have a 31/2 year old son we adopted from Guatemala and he is the joy of our lives and he is very much a blessing after wanting a family for 7 years! I will not take this blessing from God for granted this year. To those of you that are in the process of adopting a child and especially those of you who are adopting your very first child and have not other children. I remember those days and I remember going through the holidays and I know how difficult it is. I just want you to know your time is comming and its ok to feel a little sad during the holidays. God knows your longing and your pain. If you have a close friend or relative reach out this holiday season and let them know your pain and let them comfort you and most importantly let God know he does care and he can let his presence be felt this holiday season. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
Posted by: carrie at November 20, 2006 02:42 PMKelly,
Great post!! Couldn't help but think the same with the upcoming holidays. There is SO much goodness happening day in and day out that we often do not get a chance to share it.
Maybe we should look into developing an area on this website where ONLY positive and uplifting posts such as yours can be a regular occurence??
Happy Thanksgiving!
Troy, Lisa, and Amaya
Posted by: Troy Webb at November 20, 2006 02:49 PMWe too our thankful for family. I am thankful that God has blessed us with our fourth child, a beautiful little boy from Guatemala. We are praying that he will be home soon. While it is hard to wait it is important to remember that God is in control and he will provide for all his children.
I also want to thank you and all those involved in this websight. It is truly a blessing to those of us involved in the miracle of adoption.
I wish all who read this a blessed thanksgiving, and that all the children find forever families.
I am thankful for this web site-Please let your daughter know that her turkey is beautiful!
Holding you and the children in the light!
Posted by: Donna at November 20, 2006 04:41 PMWHAT A TOUCHING MOMENT THAT MUST HAVE BEEN FOR YOU!!!!!!
GOD BLESS & HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!!!
JENN
I have been reading this site since last May when we went to visit our daughter Kristina for the first time. We just brought her home October 31st, she is 10 1/2 months old. We have a son who is almost 4 years old who is also Guatemalan, but his birthmother crossed the border and gave birth to him in CT. We brought him home at 10 days old in what is considered a domestic adoption, but he is 100% Guatemalan. Our ordeal with Guatemala took 10 months because our daughter's birthmother was a minor. I treasure both experiences. Our family is now complete. Let's take the time to realize that we are receiving a gift from this country, and we must try to understand that Guatemala is a very different country from ours.
Happy Thanksgiving everyone, in the end we get the best gift of all!
Posted by: Blanca Maya at November 20, 2006 06:50 PMThis will be the best Thanksgiving so far for me as I'll be meeting my daughter in Guatemala. The only thing better is if I were bringing her home this trip.
Lisa - Waiting for Maylin
Posted by: Lisa at November 21, 2006 09:40 AMWhat a great post! I am thankful for this site! I am thankful for all the support and care of the other families also adopting. I am thankful for the sun, moon and stars!
Thank you!,
Sally & Family
What a wonderful story to be thankful for! It does remind us that there is much to be thankful for. This Friday will be our 6 year Gotcha Day with our 6 year old son, a day that I will forever be thankful for. It has changed our lives. Mom to 2 gifts from Guatemala that I am always thankful for.
Posted by: Kim at November 21, 2006 11:58 AMThe prayers that we all say for each other has helped. Our new baby Grandson will be home soon. I would like to thank each and everyone of you for your prayers and encouragement when times were looking bleak for us all. If it was not for this Web Site, we would not know what was going on with the adoptions in Guatemala. I pray that all Babies/Children find their FOREVER FAMILIES as our Baby James has and that the love for them will be as great for them as our love for him is. When I look at his pictures, I tell him how much he is wanted and how much he is already loved. I don' even know him but the love is there, I never held him but the love is there. I look forward to his coming home, because he will make my daughter and son-inlaws lives complete. They love him so much and they want him home with them. So with tears in my eyes and love in my heart I will keep you all in my prayers for your babies/children to come home to you all to make your Families complete. I will from time to time keep in touch with you all but for now just remember with GOD EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE
Love
Jean
I am thankful for the following:
My wonderful husband who is as I type on his way home from Guatemala with our 14 month old son who I will be meeting for the 1st time in 4 hrs.
My son who is on that plane and I already cherish so dearly.
My 6 year old son (bio) who has been such a joy and blessing.
and last but not least....my 3 month old son who is such a joy and blessing but also quite a surprise....after 4 yrs of trying and 4 days after receiving the referal for our guatemalan son I discovered I was pregnant.
so much to be thankful for.
to those of you still in the process, it took us 11 months to bring our son home. you will get there too. God Bless!!
Vanessa
Posted by: vanessa at November 21, 2006 07:32 PMI could fill hundreds of pages for all I am thankful for. I am truely blessed and am grateful every day.
So I will just mention the top few. I am thankful for:
Veronica, my daughter's birthmother, who made an adoption plan for her and allowed me the opportunity to be Mama to the neatest, kindest little girl I have ever known. I imagine this must have been difficult and I only hope that I will meet her one day so that Anarosa can know this woman who acted with so much love on her behalf and so I may personally thank her.
For Susana Luarca and all of the wonderful things she does for the children of Guatemala.
For Small Miracles International and for Special Children for helping me to adopt my daughter.
For my just turned three-year-old Guatemalan daughter, Anarosa, brings me joy and surprises each and every day. She makes life interesting and keeps me young!
The opportunity to adopt a second child from Guatemala soon and I still can't believe that I will be so blessed as to be able to parent two children!
For my wonderful, loving, supportive parents, 3 sisters and a brother and their partners, and 14 nieces and nephews. We all live near each other are close and spend a lot of great times together. My daughter and I truely feel loved!
The good health that my daughter, my parents and I all enjoy.
For being born in a country/city where there are many choices for education and employment, choices for me as a citizen and a woman, that I am able to support myself and my daughter, we have good food to eat and warm beds to sleep in at night.
Last, but not least, for my almost 13-year-old Golden Retriever, Bogie, who has been such a loving, loyal friend, who is slowing down day by day. I am thankful for each and every day I have left with him (I am hoping that this can be measured in years, but I have to be realistic).
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! I have enjoyed reading your posts!
Lizzie
After losing referrals for 4 children, THIS Thanksgiving we have our wee Thomas and we are so thankful. We had a number of Thanksgivings and Christmases that were very sad, but happiness does happen too!! He will be with his two little American born Scottish cousins and his Aunties and Uncles and all four of his Grandparents. He is the joy of our life. Good things do happen -and a Guatelaman friend said to me, "great things require great sacrifice." And when they arrive they deserve to be fully cherished and to be thankful for. And we are grateful for all our dear and supportive friends and family who made our difficult times filled with their love. Ruthie
Posted by: Ruth at November 23, 2006 02:17 AMThis year I am thankful for our son, who will be home as soon as our pink slip is issued. I am thankful for all of our family and friends who have been SO supportive through this process. I am thankful for the six years that I had my husband all to myself and looking forward to becoming a family of three.
Thank you God for being so close to us at our darkest hours.