We will not be providing updates over the next few days and through Christmas. Kevin is on vacation and I desperately need a break to be with my family (or I might as well check into a hospital!). I have been working many, many hours on Guatadopt, Do Good shipments, calendar issues and problem cases. But I cannot continue to neglect my own family nor my own health and need for sleep. As many of you know, this has been an incredible rollercoaster for us with news, requests, questions and problems every hour of our day...and has been taking more and more of our time each passing month. I've had to give up writing much over the last few months just to handle the day to day needs of our Do Good project and the site.
So, a couple of notes. First, understand that our team is EXHAUSTED. We *are* still volunteer and most of the proceeds we are making right now are going straight back into our projects or into our Do Good Feeding Project. The offline note INCLUDES EMAILS, PROBLEM CASE SUBMITTALS and any other service we typically provide. It is also possible that the site may go offline some during that time. Second, If you have questions, we would appreciate it if you would wait to post or ask until after Christmas.
I hope everyone has a wonderful holiday and if you celebrate Christmas, that it is joyous!
Merry Christmas,
Kelly, husband and D-Lo
Posted by Kelly at December 21, 2007 11:47 AMYou are right Kelly you all do need a break. Take time off, enjoy your family and have a very Merry Christmas
Posted by: Nancy at December 21, 2007 12:18 PMKelly, Kevin, and everyone else at Guatadopt: I REALLY appreciate everything you do! You very much deserve a break, and time with your families. Have a wonderful Christmas and a healthy, joyous New Year!
Posted by: Jennifer at December 21, 2007 12:37 PMKelly, Kevin, Troy, Marie, and everyone else, you go relax with your families!! Enjoy your very well deserved breaks. Lisa
Posted by: Lisa at December 21, 2007 01:31 PMYour hard work is much appreciated!!! Thank you for all that you do!
Have a relaxing break and Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Denise at December 21, 2007 01:53 PMMerry Christmas to everyone and thank you for keeping us sane!!!!
Posted by: Brenda at December 21, 2007 02:41 PMEveryone at Guatadopt:
You have been such a help to so many of us. Please savor every second with your families during your well-deserved break.
Posted by: Kris at December 21, 2007 02:43 PMUNDERSTOOD! Have some Gallo and relax!
Posted by: Cathy at December 21, 2007 03:22 PMthank you for all you do!
merry Christmas and happy New Year!
Todays latest from Joint Council in case it hasn't been posted anywhere:
http://www.jcics.org/Update%20(December%2021).pdf
Kelly, Kevin and staff THANK YOU for all that you do. Please go and enjoy your family and friends, that is what life is about. You help us so much and I would love to hear that you had a refreshing and wonderful holiday season upon your return. Happy Holidays.
Nancy C.
Posted by: Nancy C at December 21, 2007 04:25 PMNever posted here before, but I concur with all of the sentiments expressed above. This site has been so helpful and reassuring to me as my husband and I go through this rollercoaster of a process. (We are currently waiting on our PA in order to enter PGN.)
For those who may not have noticed, JCICS just posted a new assessment of the situation this afternoon. Still no definite answers, of course, but this seems very encouraging ...
http://www.jcics.org/Guatemala.htm
A rather nice pre-Christmas message for those of us who have cases in progress.
Posted by: Michelle at December 21, 2007 04:40 PMThanks for all your time and efforts--have a merry Christmas!
Posted by: LeAnn at December 21, 2007 08:09 PMI second the recommendation for some Gallo. We'll visit with a family member over Christmas who works for the management team of Gallo. God bless us all! He's bringing some very fresh product with him to taste during the Navidad.
Peace to all.
Gregg and family
Posted by: Gregg at December 21, 2007 08:20 PMThank you for all of your work in helping us adopting parents make sense of this complex process. We can not thank you noth enough for all of your efforts. May God Richly bless you both at this holiday season.
Posted by: Angie at December 21, 2007 08:32 PMYou deserve time for yourselves! Enjoy the break and your families.
Posted by: Jim at December 21, 2007 08:55 PMjust adding my deep and sincere thanks for ALL the amazing work you do
so many people get support and information here - thank you thank you thank you
Posted by: grateful parent at December 22, 2007 01:55 AMTo everyone at Guatadopt: We appreciate each of you so much and all the help & encouragement & hard work!!! Please enjoy the holidays with your families and we will do the same. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Amy S at December 22, 2007 07:30 AMYou guys deserve it! Take the time, enjoy your families and thank you so much for helping all of the Guatadopt families that you do! Feiz Navidad!
Posted by: Nora at December 22, 2007 09:33 AMMerry Christmas!!! Thanks for all you do!
Posted by: Jen at December 22, 2007 09:57 AMMerry Christmas. Thank you for everything you do. You have been our lifeline for the past few months and I cannot tell you how much we value you all!!
Posted by: shannon at December 22, 2007 10:50 AMKevin, Kelly, Marie, etal....words cannot express my gratitude to you for your dedication to and passion for the children of Guatemala. You are incredible people and we are so fortunate that you are there for us. I hope you and your families have wonderful, relaxing holidays filled with love.
Posted by: mifamilia at December 22, 2007 12:26 PMThank you for all the postings. Have a Merry Christmas and wish you all a Happy New Year.
Posted by: Cyndi at December 22, 2007 03:18 PMYou guys deserve a break! Thank you for all your work this year!
Posted by: Andrea at December 22, 2007 03:43 PMThank you does not express the appreciation I have for all of you and this Web site. Enjoy your family and know you all are in our thoughts and prayers.
Take Care,
Heather
Merry X-mas to you and your family. Enjoy and relax and cherish every moment of this holiday season. Thank You for all you have done already I just recently learned of your site. Thanks again and happy holidays
Posted by: Marcy at December 23, 2007 08:07 AMGuatadopt team - I don't post very much, but we really appreciate what you do in the name of the children of Guatemala, and for the prospective parents of these incredible children.
You have helped to kept me sane during this process, and I appreciate that more than words can say.
Have a Merry and Relaxed Christmas!
Echoing everyone's thoughts about you all deserving a break. You really are a beacon of information, hope and perspective for all of us.
I was looking and found that you have a donations page. It is the least we can do, to offer a modest amount to help cover some of your costs. I hope you don't mind me informing people who may not be aware.
For those interested in helping Guatadopt's hard-working volunteers, please consider a donation or purchase. Go to:
http://www.guatadopt.com/pages/Support.html
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Everyone!
Posted by: Tom at December 24, 2007 02:41 PMHonestly, I'm disappointed that you're not willing to work just a little harder for all these families who need you. You act like you're not even being paid handsomely, after all! Everyone's counting on you, while you're off "taking time with your family." Next time you are tempted to just take a vacation remember how much you are being paid and how many other people would gladly step in to do this job if they had the chance. Also, please don't tell us that it's all this "Do Good" stuff that's making you so tired you need to take time off--that charity work takes care of itself; it hardly needs anyone to organize it, after all. Exhausted, exschmausted. You just need to work a little harder!
Kidding ;)
Merry Christmas!
-Sabrina
thank you for all of your hard work, you are all very much appreciated.. enjoy your family thats what its all about...
happy holidays
alex
Kelly.
Weve been counting on you for infromation, for three adoptions now. Thank you for all you do.
i don't think i would have survived my adoption without you. thanks for all you do! :)
Posted by: mommytoEli at December 27, 2007 05:10 PMThank you to everyone who works on this site! I've never posted, but visit often, and really, really appreciate your hard work!
Happy, Happy Holidays!! :)
Brandii
Posted by: Brandii at December 29, 2007 09:44 PMKevin,
The old saying is true, "Oftentimes people are only truely appreciated after they're gone." I check your site every day for accurate and upbeat, positive news. We are waiting for our 2nd Guatemalan grandduaghter. We've been in PGN since late November. It has been nice to relax a bit and take a break since Dec. 21. We are very much looking forward to you getting "back on the job," though. You are a very calming strength in these anxious and often unpredictable times. You are appreciated. Hope that your break was a peaceful one and wish you much joy in 2008!
Sincerely,
Wisconsin Friends
I just wanted to let you know that I had a pleasant suprise in one of my Christmas gifts this year. My cousin had my name in our family drawing and he donated money to guatadopt on my behalf. I was so touched.
I personally want you to know how much I appreciate your dedication to the Guatemalan adoption community. You have been a pillar of strength to so many throughout their journeys and such a valuable resource of information to those who just want to stay involved.
Our family wishes all of your families the very best for 2008. Happy New Year!