Oh my, I LOVE the Guatemalan woven background!!! Very very beautiful!!! We all have the most gorgeous children. Can't wait to see the remaining months and my children!!!

Just have to say this year's calendar is absolutely beautiful! I love the Guatemalan fabric for the backgrounds...don't see my daughter, but maybe she'll be on one of the other months. Just had to say it is beautiful!

WILL ANYONE CARE ENOUGH TO FIX THE FORUM????

I know you said try adoption.com Forum = Well lack of better words IT SUCKS! they don't talk about anything.

PLEASE FIX THE FORUMS!! Its all I have left...

The calendar is just adorable. Hope we can do it again next year.

when will you post jan through March? When is the last day to purchase the calendars?

The calendar looks wonderful! I see some familiar faces in there! The format of the calendar is very nice this year as well, I like the hanging photos. Cannot wait to order mine! :)

Love the calendar this time, but I'm waiting for the rest before deciding whether to order or not, as I can't find my daughter in the posted months. I expected to see her in July or October (even November, since it's heavy with pumpkins, too) based on the pictures I submitted. I suppose she might show up in August...

Will there be an on-line list of kids included in the calendar like in years past so I can check to see if I missed her someplace?

I never got any feedback after my confirmation for submission, so I don't think there was a problem with my pictures. Kind of disappointed, since we've been in since the 2004 calendar.

WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You might have to look in the Back ground to find your picture. I found my daughter half covered over with another picture.

it's stunning! I so hope my daughter will be in one of the pages to come. What beautiful children we're blessed with.

Wow! How wonderful! One of my kids is in so I hope to see the other one. This is fantastic and my family will love it! Tracy

The calendar is beautiful - hope my kids make the cut. How fortunate we all are to have such happy, photogenic children.

Thanks for working so hard to make this happen.

Beautiful calendar!! You guys have done a fantastic job in putting this all together again. :) Thank you SO MUCH for all of your efforts and time!! Can't wait to receive my calendars!!

Beautiful!!! Found my Dani in April- now looking for Mel!

I love the calendar (every year)....Great job!

To Tired of Trying - I know/hope it was not your intent but your post is kind of hurtful to the Guatadopt team. If we could just "care enough" and turn the Forums on, we would. The fact is that if we turn them on right now, we don't know how much damage was done to the main forum page. We culd likely lose a ton of history. We also lack any funding stream to hire people to do the hours of work needed to "dig in" (I can't get more technical than that because I don't understand it). Point being, I take issue with any implication of Kelly, who created this site and is its matriarch and techie, not "caring".

To all - All kids should "make the cut". Every year we get every kid, short of the occassional screw up.

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

the calender looks so nice, love it but I didnt see my sammy I hope he pops up somewhere...

These look BEAUTIFUL. GREAT JOB!!! I can't wait to get them. I still haven't seen my daughters picture yet so hopefully she is in one of the months that haven't been posted yet.

I was not going to post anything about "making the cut" but after reading the posts and thinking about it I do have a few comments. My intention is not to start an arguement or hurt feeling - my intent is to give everyone something to think about so bear with me.

My daughter has not made the cut yet and yes I am disappointed but as I said to my MIL and hubby - those putting it together are taking time out of their own lives and in the end its for charity not a popularity contest. So again I will be sad and upset if she doesn't make it but its the spirit of the calendar that is important.

Most of us have been thru (or still are) going thru the ringer during the adoption process so I always try to look at all angles when I see posts that are not so nice. I try to ask myself - is the post out of desperation, fear, frustration or some other emotion. I think the post about "not caring" was a little over the top. My hope is that the post was made because of the desperation, fear and frustration of being stuck (assuming this person is part of the Guat 900).

So to Tired of Trying - I hear your cry of pain and please know I say a prayer every day for the children of Guat and anyone impacted by the current events. I belive you are just that TIRED - tired of all the crap so I'm trying to understand your point of view. Never forget for a moment think that no one here cares because many of us do and wish we could do something. Your emotions are most likely directed toward those in power who are putting you thru hell ....and the one area where you could vent is now gone - so understandable.

Kevin and Guat team - thank you for the calendar even if we don't make it - its a great thing and we shouldn't forget that its for Charity! So thank you for you time. Also, I know you probably understand that the comments made are not a personal attack - just frustration probably directed in the wrong direction so please let it roll off. I appreciate everything you do and come to this board every day (multiple times). You know what they say - you always hurt those closests to you - which is more times than not unintentional.

Everyone lets not forget in some strange way we are a family and all families hit rough spots so we need to be forgiven, move on and support each as we have all done so well in the past.

Well that is it - my two cents!

Chrissy

Looks great...I see one of our daughters so far..hopefully our other Guatemala beauty makes it.
Great job.

Calendar looks fabulous! Great job. Thank you!!

This is my first years introduction to the calendar. I don't know what the past ones have looked like, but this is the most beautiful calendar I've ever seen. All the beautiful children and wonderful colors combined. I can't wait to get one. Thanks for all the work on putting it together. I know it was very time consuming.

What a beautiful calendar this year! I remember last year, getting very emotional over the photos, because my beautiful boy wasn't home yet. Now that he has been home 9 months, I can't wait to finally see my son included with all the other children that are in their forever families. Prayers this holiday season (and always) to everyone still in process
-Christina

To Tired of Trying - there are several groups on Yahoo for Guat-adopt families. Are you on Facebook? There's a great group of Guatemama's there, too. Don't give up. As Chrissy said, we've all been there or are STILL there.

The calendar this year is looking fantastic! When I heard you were going to be able to pull it off this year, I was so happy and grateful for what you do. Now that I have seen a preview I am even more excited to purchase these calendars as gifts. I have not seen my daughter yet, but am looking forward seeing her with all the other beautiful children.
Thank you

i only see one of my kids. i looked several times but didn't see my daughter in any of the months.
Kerry

I love the look of calendar!! I can hardly wait to order mine!!!
Thanks!!!

Beautiful, just beautiful. Thank you!!!

Calendar is fabulous! Thanks!!

The calendar is beautiful!
We do see our daughter in it. However, for us, it is not as important that she is in it as that once we receive it and have it on our wall (on her grandparents' walls, her aunts' walls) our daughter gets to see many other beautiful Guatemalan children like herself.

Thank you for all that you - the Guatadopt Team Do!

Still praying for those "stuck" in the process. My heart goes out to you all!

Kevin I would like to thank you and your team for all of the hard work that went into creating the calendar.

Lisa

Kevin,

Thank you for taking the time to put the calendar together so that all of us can enjoy another year of looking at those bright smiling faces. I can only imagine what an undertaking the project is. So hats off to you Kevin! :)

It is just beautiful!!

Is there any way to figure how many children's photos were left out? I see that a good amount of folks even just on this site have commented on not seeing their child in the calendar yet.

Surely it is a colossal job, I wouldn't want to be expected to accomplish this masterpiece!

Our children are all so gorgeous!!

Thanks for all the work on this. So, it's not perfect--what /who is? I certainly can't complain about our son's pic not being on a calendar (at least so far), when there are families waiting and waiting for their children to come home! We'll be getting a calendar to support Guatadopt, one way or the other.

The calendar looks absolutely beautiful...I am sad though...the two pictures I submitted didn't make any of the months. I appreciate the hard work everyone has done, I as well as others had just hoped to see our little cuties included.

What a GREAT job! I love the calendar & so glad that it will be here for Christmas! Thank Kevin for putting this together! Kudos to you & the printer/designers!!!!

The calendar is just beautiful and I can't wait to receive it and to give it as gifts. We have bee a part of it almost since the beginning and each one is a special treasure.

Kevin, if you email me, I see one of my daughters in two separate months-one with her sister, and one solo--we can make room for someone else.

I'm still holding out that my daughter will make it in one of the remaining months. However, I was wondering whether each month's page will contain the following months miniature calendar days? I know it was missing in 2008 but was back in for 2009.

As always, the calendar looks great and showcases the beautiful eyes of our Guatemalan children!

it is so beautiful, that i am extra sad my son isn't in yet. :( i hope he makes it. but regardless, it is a beautiful calendar.

So many, many beautiful children. So, so many happy children in our lives. We are all so lucky and have a lot to be thankful for. Thank you Guatemala for letting us love your children and thank you Guatadopt.com team for producing such a beautiful 2010 calendar. Still thinking and praying for those still in the process. I miss the forums and knowing how all you are doing.

My making the cut comment was not intended to be a slam on the calendar or the Guatadopt team. My copy was ordered when I submitted the pictures.

The calendar is gorgeous and I have been showing my girls the proofs as they appear on the site. Both girls are so excited to see the beautiful pictures. They ask to see them every day.

Sept. is my only hope. We had a beautiful pumpkin picture with 6 little ones. Cant believe it isnt in October. If it doesnt show up, then there goes about 30 calendar sales (6 families x 5 each)

very pretty! i hope you can get all the kids in :)

Kevin,
The calendar is beautiful!!!
Thanks to Guatadopt for making this one happen this yr. I was so sad to hear there may not be a calendar this yr... BUT you pulled it off once again!!!

I LOVE IT! It's absolutely the most beautiful calendar I've ever seen. Can't wait for my family to open these up as Xmas gifts. Thanks for all the hard work and dedication. Tracy

Michael,

It is too bad that you cant buy the calendars even if your kids arent in it. Telling the group about the calendars you wont order is impolite after all of the hard work has been put into it. If you dont want to order, then dont, but dont make a big issue out of it. There has been many years where my daughter got a teeny tiny picture in the calendar, but you know what? We loved the teeny tiny picture.

The calendar looks great. I would be lying if I said that I wasn't disappointed that my son's picture is not included. I will still purchase a calendar to support the foundation. However, I will not purchase as many as I had planned. I normally give the calendar as gifts to family members and friends. Instead, I will make a donation to Mayan Families and to Common Hope in honor of those who I normally give calendar gifts to. This is no reflection on how I feel about Guatadopt and the amazing work that you all do. I value Guatadopt and the support and advocacy that you provide. I sincerely thank you for that. It is my hope that in the future, however, the communication with those who make the calender improves to avoid this type of mishap. I look forward to receiving my calendar and other items that I order from the "Do Good" foundation.

Jill

For those of you whose children may not make it in the final cut, maybe you could add a small one of your own and attach it to each month of the year. Given the real cause of this endeavor, it just seems such a shame to cancel orders when "a little personal touch" upon receipt could make it even more relevant to your extended family & friends. This is just an objective suggestion as I did not submit any photos of our 3 children. It's just a reaction to reading some of the comments above.

I'm so sad that my daughter is not in this calendar, she has had such challenges this
past year. It is very beautiful and I have already
ordered one. I had my 1 picture in early with a
confirmation and everything. If I provided a
conf. # off this site would someone be able to
tell me if the picture was corrupted.

So sad that my son is not in the calendar--I have the past 3 with him in it and was so looking forward to this years.

I posted earlier about not seeing my daughter, and I still don't. The ones I submitted were kind of geared toward either July or October/November, so I figured she wouldn't show up in other months.

I did notice, however, that in the "filmstrip" at the bottom of July there seems to be a lot of "wasted" or "unused" space - with sand and trees, not smiling faces. Is it possible that at least one or two other pictures might fit in there?

Kevin,

Will see the back cover before the ordering time ends?

It looks beautiful. Well done!!! Thank you Kevin and everyone else who put this together.

oh my goodness!! I am so sorry for those of you whose feelings are hurt that your children's photos were inadvertently omitted from this year's calendar (it has nothing to do with "making the cut"), and I hope that you will support this GuatAdopt *fundraiser* to support the many children remaining in abject poverty in Guatemala. Leigh

Just another thought, could an addl. page be added
with the kids pics that couldn't fit into the calendar months, face it we get this calendar to see our kids not what date it is. Do we know how many kids pics didn't make it? My daughter is too
young to understand, but there may be older kids that will be very sad to see they were left out
even. Just trying to see if this helps as an idea.

The calendar is beautiful this year but so sad that only 1 of my 3 kids made it into the calendar

I don't see my two included in the months, but I still LOVE it! Thank you!

The calendar is absolutely beautiful!!! Thank you SO MUCH to everyone who worked on it!! I just LOVE seeing all those beautiful smiles on every page :))

I still have not found my son. The calendar is gorgeous! I am really hoping that he will appear somewhere in the calendar. He is 6 and looks forward to this every year. We have been doing this for the past several years and we don't want him to be sad. We understand how hard everyone is working. Is there anyway to get a list of names of kids from each month?

Love it! So glad I bought five calendars!

Amy wrote:
"It is too bad that you cant buy the calendars even if your kids arent in it. Telling the group about the calendars you wont order is impolite after all of the hard work has been put into it. If you dont want to order, then dont, but dont make a big issue out of it. There has been many years where my daughter got a teeny tiny picture in the calendar, but you know what? We loved the teeny tiny picture."

Although I thought the comment from Michael came across strong please keep in mind the disappointment many parents, including myself, feel that their child/children are not included. You cannot compare a teeny tiny picture to no picture - can you?

And I do not think it is fair to expect us to purchase these as gifts just because it is for charity.

Is there a way to add an extra page for pictures in the calendar. That would be a great idea.

This is the first time my 2 children are not in the calendar. I really wanted to make it a tradition of this, and get it every year.

Is there a way to find out if you will put it on.

My daughters are Jennifer 5 - Guatemala and Gillian (11).

I would like to make sure she is on the calendar, before i order.

Thank you.

Eve

Amy, I cannot justify spending that kind of money for calendars that do not have pictures of my kids. I did not mean to sound non-appreciative. I know it is a hard endeavor but to be assured all children will be included is a little disheartening after we've supported this calendar for several years. I could understan if the picture was corrupt or if not properly submitted. But to have a "confirmation" e-mail and seeing a calendar without your kids is different. You may feel that way if it were you. We have had 'tiny' pictures in the past and have been ok with it. I am not mad, I am just dissapointed for my kids.

The calendar is very beautiful! Although I am disappointed that my twin daughters' picture didn't get put in...I received my confirmation as I submitted early in the game. Been in suspense to see what month they were going to be in this year. Oh well...maybe next time. All the children are a blessing from God!

my daughter wasnt included in the calendar either & while I am disappointed that doesnt take away the colossal effort that the Guatadopt team put into this.. The calendar looks GREAT!!!!

Lillian... your post below is absurd! Should we usae scotch tape to attach it?!?!?! If that is the case, wwe could just make our own and be assured our children "made the cut".
--------------------------

For those of you whose children may not make it in the final cut, maybe you could add a small one of your own and attach it to each month of the year. Given the real cause of this endeavor, it just seems such a shame to cancel orders when "a little personal touch" upon receipt could make it even more relevant to your extended family & friends. This is just an objective suggestion as I did not submit any photos of our 3 children. It's just a reaction to reading some of the comments above.

The calendar is beautiful...but one more suggestion for a potential fix for the picture issues, if time permits. Perhaps the calendar dates could be shrunk to allow two film strips down each side of the dates. It appears that the film strips hold about 6 pictures each, 2 extra film strips per month, for 12 months is an extra 144 pictures. Just a thought for whatever its worth!

Thank you so much to Kevin and the Guatadopt team for this wonderful calendar. It is awesome to see all the beautiful children from Guatemala. My son is in it, but I would not have cancelled my order of 5 if he wasn't. Love the calendar no matter what!

The calendar looks amazing. It brings tears to my eyes to see so many smiling faces of the kids at home. I can't wait until all Guat PAP's have pictures of their smiling kids at home.

Now to order the calendar...is anyone else having trouble with the security certificate when they try to check out?

Just wanted to say that the calender is beautiful....gorgeous ! Such precious happy faces....what a blessing to see ! I did not submit my son's picture because he is not yet home and I know it sounds silly, but I am afraid to jinx anything :-( Hopefully next year ! But I am going to order because I want to support this cause and because I do love guatadopt and it's purpose, it's people and it's support ! Thanks for all you do! Lynn

WOW, I am stunned at some of the really insensitive remarks, and yes they are directed at the Guatadopt staff, whoe else should they be intended for! We all love our children and yes maybe people are disappointed that their children are not featured in the calender, however, take a look back at all the comments that were made when there was NOT going to be a calender, we were all sooooo disappointed (and yes that was sarcastic). Get "over yourselves" folks, this is for charity. Threatening or commenting that maybe you will not purchase as many or any calenders and even commenting on how maybe "it can be done better" is insulting to Kevin, Kelly and the rest of the team that put this calender together. Thank your lucky stars that we get a calender this year! And, please do not forget about all those waiting for their little ones who did not even get a chance to submit photos.

For anyone who has done graphic design work, it is not so easy to make changes to the macro design.

One of the issues we have discovered that made it tough is that many families submitted pics multiple times. This makes it hard for us to knwo exactly how many kids are not in the calendar.

We are running out of time to make changes. I will keep everyone as well informed as I can.

Bottom line - I am truly sorry all kids will not make it in. I know I do not expect anyone to donate to any cause or to buy anything. If anyone made a donation in order to receive a calendar and since their child is not in it, they want that donation back - it is no problem. Just let me know.

Lastly, there was not going to be a calendar this year. It only happened because the printer took on the responsibility. EVERY YEAR kally and I have wondered why we do the calendar because there are always issues - it is an impossible task for a group with no employees! People get so upset and we have always taken every disappointment to heart. Now I'm hearing about sad kids which breaks my heart.

If you want a calendar with pictures of your kid in it, it's easy enough to do at Walgrens. That is no one's intent on this. Everyone loves to see all the kids but wants to see their own.On the other hand, this is about charity and if you are going to have a calendar hanging in yor kitchen, why not make it something that helps out kids? As for gifts, every calendar donation feeds a child for about 2-3 weeks. So there is a reason beyond just the pics in the calendar. But to the person who mentioned the other fair trade and charity oriented gifts they will give - AWESOME!!!! And we do have a good array of Do Good stuff that make great gifts!

Remember, I don't make a penny off of this. money donated to help kids from the Do Good Charitable Foundation are no better than any otehr dollars. So I am ecstatic to hear about anything being done that helps kids in Guatemala. If I could, I'd skip the calendar and say "go get a free calendar from somewhere else and just donate the $20 to us" because then all $20 would go to feed kids.

I guess I'm saying that I am really upset that we won't get everyone in. But also realize that to say you are not ordering because of this is no pain to anyone personally. I don't care how many calendars move out other than that the more we move, the more we donate.

Peace,

Kevin
Guatadopt.com

The calendar looks great. Having helped with it in past years, I know it's a tremendous undertaking. Thanks to everyone who took on the challenge this year to put together such a beautiful calendar!
Kerri

If folks want to really feel angry, sad, upset, disappointed, etc etc, I suggest you look at :
http://guatemala900.org/wp/

I really can't believe we are having this kind of discussion around a calendar. I understand that it's not fun to expect that your child will be on the calendar and s/he isn't. I'm in the same situation (at least I think I am--haven't checked the last page posted yet). But, a little perspective, please. Thank goodness the Forums are down so that this discussion is not taking place where folks caught up in the nightmare of not being able to get their children home could see it.

And how about some respect and gratitude for the Guatadopt team, who donate hours and hours to provide a service to us and to help the children of Guatemala through their charitable arm. Is it too much for them to ask that we provide a bit back, so that they can help more? I mean, really.

Well said, Kevin! The calendar is beautiful.

Please know that so many of us appreciate the hard work and would hate to see it end!

Julie

The calendar looks great! However, I can't get my order to go through. Can someone help me please?

Also, thank you to the Guatadopt team for all your years of dedication to this site and these type of projects. I know very few people who would work as hard as you have worked to educate, inform and raise money for programs in Guatemala. Please know that the majority of us really do appreciate all your efforts. So thank you!!!!

Come on now folks it for charity not for damn talent competition! So what if some of our kids didn't make it,it's not the end of the world! We all have the real children in our lives,be thankful and not selfish because some of our pictures didn't make the calendar! All these children are beautiful,apart of God's creation,and we are blessed to have them as a part of our families. I'm just happy and feeling good about helping my boys home country of Guatemala in some way! Thank you Kevin and the rest of the Guatadopt staff for all that you do!!!!!!!!!!!! Happy National Adoption to all!!

Kevin - I think the calendar is absolutely beautiful. You're reading negative comments, but not enough positive so I wanted to post. Last year, my daughter's photo was in January so it wasn't up long with her in it. That was fine because we have photos of our daughter in our house already. This calendar to our family is about our daughter seeing many faces like her own. It's about helping her understand that many other kids are from Guatemala, just like her - and they are beautiful - just like her. Almost every day, she asks me if it's time to turn the page so she can see the next group of pictures. She peaks ahead. When I showed her the new calendar on the computer, she was so happy - she loves seeing all the smiling faces. She isn't looking for her own face... she's looking for other happy kids like her. Thank you so much for all of your efforts. Debbie

Kevin and the Guatadopt team -I'm told The info about Guatemala re-opening is also posted on the CNA website but I can't read spanish

I am so glad there is a calendar this year. It is beautiful. Frankly, I was sort of shocked that Guatadopt decided to do it again because last year some of the comments were pretty mean spirited.

Thank GuatAdopt for making this happen again. It really makes me happy.

The calendar is beautiful. Thanks for all of your hard work.

I post this here only because I saw some families stressed for information who are obviously monitoring latest posts. We never hired them but obviously at one point in process [manual of best practices] were just as freaked as everyone else and considered it.

Dear friends and clients.

As many of you probably heard today, the CNA made a statement regarding the opening of international adoptions.

The statement reads as follows:

OFFICIAL INVITATION TO THE CENTRAL AUTHORITIES OF THE RECEIVING COUNTRIES TO PRESENT A LETTER OF INTEREST TO COOPERATE WITH THE INTERNATIONAL ADOPTION IN GUATEMALA.

The National Council of Adoptions will begin a pilot plan, with the purpose of expanding its operating capacities in the search of international families, for children who it has not been able to integrate into a Guatemalan family. For that effect, and to begin the cooperation with some central authorities of receiving countries, members of the Convention of The Hague, related to the Protection of the Child and the Cooperation on the subject of International Adoption, puts at your disposal, the following information:

1. Background

As a result of the armed conflict that Guatemala lived during 1960-1996, many children lost their families, becoming orphans. National and international adoptions begun with the purpose of finding families for these children. Nevertheless, as time went by, this situation generated an out of proportions demand for Guatemalan children. During 30 years in Guatemala, there operated a system of international adoptions based on private requests processed mainly through notaries and without an adequate control by the entities of the state. This system generated abuses of different types that violated the human rights of the children and their families of origin. In this way children were handed in directly for the exchange of money and a real trade was made.

This situation was stopped with the approval and entry into force of the law of adoptions and the Convention of The Hague 1993, on December 31, 2007.

The law created the National Council of Adoptions CNA [for its initials in Spanish], as the Central Authority on the subject of adoption, an autonomous entity responsible for the implementation of a system of adoptions that will answer to the superior interest of the children. In 2008 and 2009, the CNA designed the technical guidelines of work and its institution that basically promotes national adoption. The time has come to broaden the operating capacity of the CNA, in search of collaborators from abroad, that will allow them to find families for Guatemalan children, who couldn’t find Guatemalan families.

2. Number and profile of the children in state of adoptability

About this we must make the following explanations:

The number and profile of children that require international adoption has changed, radically. Under the former system, 5,000 yearly adoptions were registered during the last years, most of the children were boys and girls younger than one year old and in good health, different from the reality of the unprotected children; therefore, we must emphasize that the number and profile of the children for which protection through adoption will be looked for, nationally and internationally, will never again correspond with the numbers of the past.

The actual trend in the adoptions in Guatemala is coming close to what exists in the other Latin American countries, which is the profile of the children of the system of protection for which a Guatemalan family hasn´t been found is: children who are older (around first years of school age and older), groups of siblings, children with health, mental or emotional issues and children that they haven’t been able to place in national families.

About the number of children with the potential need of national or international adoption, it is hard to estimate it, because Guatemala is now in a transition phase, which makes the management of the protection institutions of the children and among other things, the social and family investigation and the legal determination of their situation, difficult. The actual number is 200 children, they have been declared adoptable by the children’s courts in the year 2008. Although this number will vary according to the development of the work of the system of protection, it is an indicator that the needs of adoption, national and international, will remain in the hundreds and not the thousands, as in the past.

3. Types of collaboration

As a way to respect the subsidiarity of international adoption, in relation to national adoption and not to overload the multidisciplinary technical team of the CNA, files of request to adopt from foreign candidates, won’t be received. The CNA will promote a system of requirement of foreign families, according to the needs of the children and the moment they are presented. That is, it will be the CNA who will send the files of the children who need to be adopted internationally, to the receiving States and not vice versa.

That way, the CNA wants to implement a two year pilot project, with a maximum number of four Accredited Organizations and their corresponding Central Authority. This pilot project will have 2 sides, one is the adoption and another wider one is the subject of the protection of children.

We invite the Central Authorities interested, to get in contact with the CNA, who will send them more information about this project. No Accredited Organization can apply independently; it will always have to be within the framework of this project and through the corresponding Central Authority of their country.

The interested Central Authorities must send a letter written in Spanish, stating their interest of cooperation to the CNA, during the period between November 19 and December 3, 2009, to receive complementary information of the project that will be implemented.

The countries that have more than one Central Authority, must make this process through the Central Authority registered before the Convention of the Hague.

Sincerely,

National Council of Adoptions of Guatemala, Central Authority.

……….

As you read in this statement, the CNA is only inviting other Central Authorities from other countries to express their desire to collaborate with adoptions in Guatemala.

We will gather more information and our representatives in the US will try to contact the Central authority as soon as possible. Please let us know if you wish to receive more information regarding this in the future.

Best regards,

Adoption Supervisors Guatemala

My daughter isn't in the calendar either. It is a bummer. I will say I didn't want her in the calendar because it a talent competition like someone suggested. I wanted her in the calendar so she could see herself AND all of the other amazing and beautiful Guatemalan children that have been adopted just like her over the years. I can't very well show her a calendar and then explain to a 3 year old she is not in there because of the printer.

HOWEVER - I will say I am not angry or upset in the least bit. Things happen and I am sure we all know no one did it on purpose at all. The calendar is still gorgeous and the children even more beautiful.

Thanks to the Guatadopt team for all of their hard work!!!

My son was not included in the calendar this year, but that is not going to stop me from ordering it. I remember the pain of not having him home, and how much the Guatadopt team made me feel like I was not alone. I am disappointed that my son is not in it, but overjoyed that I can hug him whenever I want. Last year, I was unable to. Thank you for such a wonderful calendar this year!

We are ordering 3 calendars. I wish we could order more but we just $$ can't do it. It makes me even more happy to know it will feed a child for 2-3 weeks!!!!

As for all the comments about not making it - STOP STOP STOP - imagine all the parents whose children DIDN'T MAKE IT HOME for another Xmas!!!!! Really are you serious??? Thank your lucky stars that you have your children and make a calendar at your local drug store or Walmart! I am not one of the pap's waiting for my child to come home - I did make the calendar but as I posted earlier - before I knew my daughter was in it - ITS FOR CHARITY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lets have a little sensitivity for those still in process and stop being selfish! Have a little respect for those WHO GIVE THEIR OWN TIME WITH NO REWARD other than pride in this site.

That's it - this post should be closed unless you have something positive to say! If you don't have anything nice to say don't say anything!

Chrissy

Kevin -

Sorry to upset you. Maybe someone could post an update as to the status of the forums. Its just a horrible time of year for us (the waiters) My daughter whom I have not seen not even a picture since March 2009 will be 3 soon. It very heartbreaking to not have contact with the people who "talk me off the ledge"

What a beautiful calendar! While my son is in one of the last months released, I would NOT have been disappointed if he wasn't in it. The quality of the photos is amazing. Everyone's pictures are absolutely beautiful! I now know I need to step my picture taking up a notch :)

Thanks to the Guatadopt team for the effort.

With all the negative I wanted to post a positive to. The calender is so beautiful and you can surely tell a lot of hard work went into. Yes my sons picture is in it and I am very happy about that but even if he wasnt I would still buy the 3 just like last year and will continue to buy 3 every year as long as the guatadopt team puts one together. But if they decide not to do 1 next year who could blame them. So get over yourselves people and donate to a good cause, just my 2 cents

Is anyone else having trouble ordering the calendar?

I am looking at the most beautiful calendar I have ever seen with the most beautiful children I have ever seen, and am completely stunned at the insensitive, rude, thoughtless comments that are posted about it. It is shocking. I try to teach my daughter every day by words and examples to be grateful and gracious to others who do things for us, and I would hope that you guys do as well. Well, I have never posted on this forum before but cannot stop myself from saying that this is an embarrassing example of how not to show gratefullness or graciousness. Kevin has made it clear over and over again how much of an effort he and his team make for this calendar, without pay and at the expense of their family time, and instead of people saying thank you (or nothing if you are not happy), all many of these posts are about is complaining and whining. As we teach our children, if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing. If you are disappointed your child is not in the picture, then say nothing. It will not solve anything. What it most likely will cause is the Guatadopt team not bothering next year for such an ungrateful, complaining group of people.

I, on the other hand, having not made the effort to even submit a picture because I did not want to spend the money on the calendar with all of the other Christmas expenses, will be ordering one because I was stunned at how breathtakingly beautiful it is. It perfectly embodies the beautiful Guatemalan culture with the beautiful tapestry textures and colors and it will look amazing on my kitchen wall, with or without my child's picture in it. She will certainly not complain (how would a child even know that it was an option if you do not tell them that it was?)and she loves to look at children that look like her so she will adore it. I wish I had made the effort now, but I would never, ever make such nasty comments to a group of people who care so much about us and do so much for others, even if I was disappointed about the end result. If you are one that complained on the board, shame on you.

Kevin-
Awesome job with the calendar!!! Your hard work is always appreciated!!!

To those whose children did not make the calendar... Seriously, there are worse things in the world than not being in the calendar.... This is the time of year to be thankful for all we have. Be thankful that your children are at home with you and that you are not part of the Guatemala 900 nightmare.

I love the layout of this years' calendar! What a bunch of beautiful children! Thank you!!!

Thank you SO MUCH to Kevin and the entire volunteer team of people - so many of which we will never know - that it takes to put this calendar out every year! I am so sorry for hurtful comments said from others, intended or unintended. I find it really helpful to take 24 hours to pray over a post before hitting send on something there is any question about, and encourage others to do the same. God bless the entire Guateadopt team and may you have a fabulous holiday season and peaceful 2010!

I am so sad that I don't see my child...I thought for sure it was going to be August....I do understand that all the kids may not be in it but it still bums me out! Thanks for all you hard work and all that you do!

The most beautiful calendar yet, just gorgeous. A worthy cause. Love seeing all those beautiful faces. Thanks for your hard work.

What is the status of a back cover trying to add some of the kids who were missed? Will there be a preview of that (if there is one) before ordering ends?

I do think that this is by far the most beautiful calender of our Guatemalan kids that I have seen, and we've been in since the 2005 edition - even made the cover one year. I was showing my 6 1/2 year-old daughter the preview yesterday, while she was sitting on my lap. I asked her what she thought of it, and she replied, "It's beautiful, Mom. Where is my picture?" Broke my heart to tell her she wasn't there this year and to see her sad face and eyes welling with unshed tears when she realized she wasn't a part of it this time. Those of us who have kids who were missed are not all selfishly wanting our kids in just to see them ourselves...

Thanks to all who worked so hard to put this labor of love together. It's well worth the effort. Hopefully it will continue next year, and without glitches, such as this - we can always hope, anyhow. :o)

awesome.... it is totally beyond my expectations...thank you to everyone who made it possible.