Anniversary, Court and Thanksgiving

Yes, another long post. I need to get on here more often. It has been so busy. My brother, sister and myself have been planning a surprise 40th Anniversary Party for Mom and Dad. Believe it or not we pulled it off:) It was such a nice suprise for them and seeing them so happy. We had over 150 people there. This Party came at a good time since my Mom was diagnosed with Breast Cancer the Friday before. We are praying it was caught soon enough since it was found at a routine Mammogram. She has surgery on the 30th. Please keep her in your prayers. Here are some pictures of the happy couple, the cake and some my family.

Wednesday the day before Thanksgiving we had court to re-adopt Christina and change her name to Christina Maria from Maria Fernanda. She was smiling at everyone there especially the judge until he held her then she gave her Granny look and was analyzing him during pictures. The kids all came and it was a very special occasion because Christina will now have a US Birth Certificate and a Social Security Number. She is a US citizen!!!!!

Here are some pictures of all the excitement.

Here is a picture of her in her carseat she has moved up from an infant carrier...she is a big girl now!!!

Thanksgiving meant a lot to us this year. It was Christina's first Thanksgiving with us. Last year we were driving to Thanksgiving dinner and we were missing her so much. It's so amazing how time heals the pain of the wait of which we are very thankful!!! We are also thankful for our family. Our kids are such great kids they are so good with Christina they never complain about taking care of her....other things yes but not her. I am Thankful for my husband who is always there and is my best friend. He is the one who knows me like no other person. Yes, we have our squabbles like every couple does at some point but then we get to make up!! We are thankful for both of our families. If we need help or someone to talk to, ask a question or need help they are there. We are most Thankful to God who has given us all our blessings!!!! After being in Guatemala where there are the rich and the very poor and no middle class you begin to realize that happiness is not what we have in material things it means our families, health and God as the center of our lives. Please keep in your prayers all those children in Guatemala who will be in limbo and the birth families who won't have the choices they have now for their children when adoptions eventually close to become Hague compliant. Also pray the Guatemala government is able to move swiftly to close those gaps for any corruption to end and that Adoptions will proceed again so children will be given a chance to have a US forever family if that is what their birth parents choose. Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!!