Yuck

I can't stand it. We're packing, Emma's sleeping and I can feel the minutes slip by...

Dreading tomorrow

Emma goes back to her foster family tomorrow...It's sad. Really sad. For the past six days Tera and I have bonded with Emma and tomorrow it will have to cease for a time. It is hard for the both of us yet she has affected us in different ways too. Emma has done things to me and my heart that I can't even begin to explain if I had to. Tomorrow will be hard. Beyond hard.
I do want to say that we are so thankful for what the Lord has done. He has been ever faithful and graceful to us. We are so thankful that we were able to see her at such a young age. The longer visit makes it harder because so much more bonding can happen than if we were here for something like two days. I'll write more after we get back home.
Please pray that our process goes quickly so that someday soon we can be permanently reunited with little Emma.

J

Greetings from Guatemala City

We are here. I have not posted because I have been staring at our little one so much. For the record we named her Emma Grace Esperanza Chavez. Emma and Grace are family names and Esperanza means "hope".

We arrived in Guatemala City on Tuesday safe and sound. We were met outside the airport by many beggars. I am not as used to this as Tera is. It's hard to see children live like that. On the way from the airport to the hotel I witnessed approximately four thousand traffic violations give or take a few. I don't think that I will ever rent a car here.

Tera and I were spent yet so excited to meet little Emma so we did the best we could to get some rest and to settle in for a weeks stay at the Westin in Guatemala City. The beds here are far beyond what I can explain. They are by far the most comfortable beds I have ever slept in.

Wednesday morning we got up and went to have breakfast. It was buffet style with so many things to choose from. I have officially named fried plantains as my "so very bad for me but I don't care" food of choice. The breakfast was so good but in the backs of our minds was the fact that we were about to meet the girl who would change our lives forever. We headed back up to our room and waited. Room service came to tidy up our room and the second they left and shut the door the phone rang. It was Marielena asking us to meet her in the lobby of the hotel. We quickly gathered our things and headed for the lobby. Once there Marielena led us to a small secluded room to meet little Emma (then Nurian Sochil). The foster mother was there with her daughter and Emma. The foster mother greeted us and immediately handed Emma to Tera. We were so overwhelmed by the situation that neither Tera or I spoke for a minute or so. We began to speak with the foster mother and her daughter about Emma and who they were as well. The foster mother and her daughter were so sweet and kind. We like them alot. They seem so concerned with Emma's well being. After some more conversation and picture taking we were allowed to leave so the three of us headed back upstairs to our room. Together we gave Emma her first bath, first bottle and first diaper change. A day of firsts. I loved it. Since then Emma has pretty much slept and eaten. Today she is a bit out of sorts but otherwise in great spirits. Here at the Westin we have met so many nice people visiting their babies as well. Last night we were able to have dinner with one of the moms and her little one which was really nice. It's really cool to interact with others going through the adoption process as well.
This morning we signed our Power of Attorney and the now the Guatemalan side of the process is now underway! Praise the Lord.
So here I sit. It is raining outside and Tera is across the room feeding Emma. It seems so quiet in here even with the hustle and bustle of the city below. The world moves on as Tera and I fall in love with our dear Emma Grace.

If you want to see some pictures Tera has some posted on her blog. Just click on the "Guatemama" link to the right. I'll get that picture thing figured out one of these days.

Jason

Gotta fly

I must admit that I have been very busy along with Tera preparing for our POA trip to Guatemala. I just wanted to quick drop a line to those who read this and to ask for your continuing prayer during our trip. Pray for the Lord's protection over all three of us during this time. We leave Tuesday morning and we are afraid, nervous, excited and every other emotion under sun. I will probably post when we return.

Thanks again.

Jason

PRAISE GOD!!!

Tera and I went out yesterday to run some errands and get a bite to eat. When we got home I saw the machine had a new message on it. I pushed play and heard the saved messages one after another until the final message. It was the new one. The one that would change our lives forever. Our agency called informing us that we had received our referral. A little baby girl born October 4th. The agency informed us that we would be receiving more information along with pictures. Tera and I looked at each other and began to cry. What else could we do? We had waited 10 years for this. We ran to the living room and told Jimmy (her brother) and he was very excited and happy for us. We quickly ran to our computers and began checking our emails. Feverishly hitting Send/Receive over and over again until the information began to roll in. First the health information and other vitals and finally the pictures. I cannot express the feelings that well up inside me when I see her face. She is so very, very beautiful to me. I miss her already.
Our plan is to get to Guatemala for our first visit as soon as possible. Maybe leaving as early as Friday.
I have to go and will post some pictures as soon as I can figure out how to do so.
Thanks so much to all of you who have prayed for us through our wait. You know who you are.

You will hear from me soon.

Adios.