The Journey Becomes an Adventure!

JEREMIAH 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future!

Well, October 8th, 2012 is the day that marks when our adoption journey FINALLY becomes an adventure!  Reyes and I have arrived in San Pedro Sula...and we will return as a family of 5...we may not know when, but we are trusting in the Lord's timing and perfect plan.

Everything about this trip has been different than our previous trips to Honduras.  First, we always stay for 10 days...exactly 10 day!  Since we will be here indefinitely, and we will stay in the Humuya Inn apartments for the Tegucigalpa part of our trip (4-6 weeks), we had to pack more clothes and toiletries.  And, we brought food with us, which is fairly atypical.  I don't know what we will find as we begin shopping at Walmart Tegucigalpa, but the prices at the grocery store in San Pedro Sula, La Antorcha, are REALLY high.  And since there are five of us...I have all of our hygeine products, extra socks and underwear, OTC medications, bug spray, sun screen, packets of food/mixes (onion & vegetable soup, chili seasonings, sloppy joe, gravy,  tuna, oatmeal, popcorn, gelatin, tea bags, kool aid, crystal light drink, cookies, mashed potatoes, stuffing, coconut, nuts, etc.---mostly light-weight foods that I need for recipes that I know how to cook, but that I wasn't sure would be available at Walmart...I will keep you posted on whether this was necessary), jelly, peanut butter, raisins, muffin tin and cupcake liners, cookie sheet, whisk, cooking spoon, measuring spoons, spatula, playing cards and rules to about 10 easy/children's games, crayons, markers, coloring books/books/flashcards, Ipod/Ipad/Smart phones (filled with educational apps....FILLED) and more that I will talk about later as we start unpacking the suitcases.  We will have a kitchen and a waffle maker, toaster and crockpot.  Kid Friendly RECIPES APPRECIATED!!!

So, a recap of the last week...We are assuming that we will be here for up to 2 months...after transitioning our work to our peers/colleagues...the next step was to prepare our household.  I decided to have my sister-in-law pick up our mail twice a week to monitor for bills I might have forgotten about rather than to put it on hold.  She will also check on the house and be available to call a repairman, etc. if something needs fixing.  We asked our neighbor, Joe, to cut our front yard when he does his yard, but we are hoping that the backyard can go 1-2 months while we are gone without turning into a jungle.  This time of year is very temperate in Texas, so we completely turned off the air/heat.  We turned off the water in the kitchen, because it has been giving us fits.  We left the outdoor light on, locked the deadbolts, turned on several curly bulbs around the house, and said a prayer over the house, because it is uncomfortable leaving it for so long.  All I can think about is SQUATTERS coming to live in it!!!   I also put our DISH on hold ($5 a month vs. $100), cancelled our Time Warner house phone/internet (never liked it anyway...will research new internet when I get home-$70 monthly savings) and put our Sprint cellphones on hold ($8 per phone...vs. $200).

Mariana's daughter, Karla, offered to watch our fur son, Osito (Little Bear), while we are gone.  However, Karla lives in Galveston...300 miles away!  When you are going to be gone up to two months, this savings is HUGE!  And, Osito will be happier staying with friends...I hope they give him back =)  Had to remember to buy a big bag of dog food for him...the little Tupperware container we use for 10 days is wholly insufficient.  After a last minute grooming disaster (our groomer's grandmother died and I had to find a replacement...on a Friday) and  instructions for what to do in an emergency, we had Osito squared away.

In planning our flight, we looked around the state for the best deal, as we are flying one way and will be returning last minute with 5 tickets to purchase.  We found Spirit Airlines, a discount airline that flies to "The Americas".  They only fly out of Dallas Ft Worth (DFW) and only into San Pedro Sula, but that works well for us.  Our one way tickets were $ 118 (plus baggage fees), via Ft. Lauderdale, for a 6 hour trip.  This is more than a 75% savings.  My SUPER AWESOME cousin, Amy, allowed us to park our mini-van at her house (15 minutes from DFW) and my WONDERFUL Honduran adoption friend, Emily, took us to the airport (my cousin was out of town over the weekend).  SMOOTH SAILING!!!  So GRATEFUL!!!

So, we are here...safe and sound...and ready for the ADVENTURE part to begin...Jefferson just woke up and is already having fun with the IPAD!!!  I don't know what our future holds...but so glad I know who holds our future!  One day at a time!!!

11 years ago today!

Happy Birthday, Jefferson and Jennifer!!!  I can't believe 11 years have passed so quickly!  We are so very, very proud of you!!!  I can remember hearing of your birth...I can remember being so worried about you both.  You entered this world so early, under 3 pounds and 2 1/2 months before your due date...in a third world country with limited resources to care for you.  But, you had the Lord to protect you and the help of your precious grandma who nurtured you like the many kittens and puppies she has rescued through the years.

Just weeks before 9/11, an event you do not remember, but which shook your new little world, you made your entrance and we have loved you ever since.  So many precious memories...I cherish each and every one...At times, I wish there had been the opportunity for more time together to bond and enjoy,  but I am trusting in God's perfect plan for our lives.  Keep studying, keep praying and doing His will...we will be together very soon!!!  

With Love,

Mami Kristin y Papi Reyes

Con Esperanza

The last several days have been a whirlwind! It is so nice to be back in San Pedro Sula with our family...the children were so happy to see us again and today we leave for 3 days at the beach. I want to thank everyone for your prayers while we traveled to and from Tegucigalpa and during our meetings with IHNFA and the court. A little recap from the last several days: In preparation for our meetings at IHNFA, to say that I was nervous would be an understatement. It has taken so long to get to this point, so for 3.5 years, I had dreamed of this exact moment in time. But, I never imagined how kind and compassionate everyone would be. My husband decided to hire a translator for me and he convinced me that it would insure that I was able to understand every question and answer with complete clarity. My translator's name was Liz Navas and she was wonderful. A 28 year old, mother of two young daughters, she was born and educated in California and now teaches 4th grade in a bilingual school in Tegucigalpa and translates for adoptive parents from the U.S. I felt like we were long lost friends. I was completely comfortable with her and I explained that I had never used a translator, but was so happy to have her there with me. In the first meeting with Frances, the social worker, I understood and answered in Spanish with minor assistance from Liz. Frances was AMAZING! She held my hand when I answered questions about my infertility and hysterectomy. She offered me tissues when I cried explaining that we bought our 4 bedroom house 10 years ago to fill with children and the bedrooms have just sat empty. She was an angel! The questions were no more difficult than during our home study in the U.S and we laughed a lot, which made me very comfortable. I was completely MYSELF!!! Next, we met with ELVIS...the psychologist. He was a very nice man and I chose to use Liz in a different way with him. The questions asked were completely open ended...Tell me about your childhood, adolescence, marriage, etc. I had Liz recap certain parts from the social work interview (to give my mind a rest). Overall, the interviews took about 3 hours...1.5 hours with the social worker and the psychologist. Where I really needed Liz was after the interviews. We sat in the waiting room at IHNFA and spoke with our attorney, Marta Montoya. This was my first time to meet Marta in person and she was lovely! Thank you, Lord, for putting this woman in our lives. Marta explained the process that we will experience from this point. I asked Liz to take notes for me in English. What a HUGE help!!! So, yesterday...we went back to IHNFA and took the original 1967 version of the MMPI. It was VERY different from the MMPI 2 which we took in the U.S. as part of our original psychological evalutation. But it still had the 566 questions...UGH! Then, I was asked to draw pictures of two people, a woman and a man, and answer questions about the woman...NOT FUN!!! Finally, I had to write a biography about my life...also, somewhat trying. I was done in 1.5 hours, but my poor husband took 3 hours to complete the exams. Pobrecito...I think those 37 year old eyes may need glasses! I am making an appointment when we get home. Presenting our papers to the courts took 15 minutes and basically, we signed papers, gave Marta our passports and she took everything in to give to the clerk. After that, we headed for our bus and our 4 hour trip down the mountain. Very enjoyable and uneventful this time (going up the mountain our bus broke down and we spent 2 hours on the side of the road). Getting ready, now, to go rent our BIG van and head to the beach! We are going to have a blast and Cristofer is already awake and playing on the IPAD with Papi! Just so happy!!!

Feliz cumpleanos, Cristofer!

Happy Birthday, my sweet little boy! I can hardly believe you turned 9 today!!! What a wonderful gift to learn that your Papi and I will be coming to see you in 11 days! We were so happy telling the three of you and Mami Domi over the computer tonight. So much to do between now and then....I can hardly wait to hold you again! Not long now, sweetheart! This trip has come at just the right time. Aunt Melissa passed away last Tuesday and your Papi and I, along with Aunt Kristy, Uncle Darren and your cousins, Brandon and Daniel have been in agony. Your hugs and kisses are what we need right now! While we are visiting, we will have to travel to Tegucigalpa to meet with the nice ladies who visited with you in March...we will be strong and tell the truth, just like you, Jefferson and Jennifer! We could not be more proud of the three of you! Good night for now...we miss you so very much! Feel better soon, Honey....lots to do while we are there!

Happy 100th Birthday, Grandpa!

Today was such a bittersweet day...I missed mi Corazon, Reyes and the kids so much! My brother and his family and I have travelled to Indiana for my grandpa's 100th birthday. As a result of the many delays in our adoption process, I have been unable to travel to Indiana since 2009. I had so hoped that the children would be here for this special event and family reunion. I had not seen some family members since my mother's funeral in 1999. There were so many children the same ages of ours. Though I have seen pictures on facebook, I had not met many of my cousin's children. Being a military kid puts a huge strain on family relations. It was wonderful to honor my grandpa today...for me, it was a last minute decision to come here. Per our attorney, we received our assignment a little over two weeks ago, May 25th; however, we have not received a travel date (they have 18 days to give us a date). With our first travel date imminent, it was determined that Reyes stay home and work/take care of the dog. Please continue to pray for our family to be together again soon!

Reflecting with Gratitude!

Today is Memorial Day...a time when many enjoy fun in the sun...We are spending the 3 day weekend at the lake, relaxing and spending quality time with friends and family. However, for many Americans, this is a day of unbelievable sadness. As an Air Force brat, I knew the days, months and years of being separated from my father. When my brother was born, my dad was in Korea (during the Vietnam War). My brother was 8 months old when my father first met his son! We have audio tapes from those times...I was a confused little girl, asking the tape recorder, "What are you doing in there? I miss you...I sure wish you'd come home!" My daddy came home, just like my grandpa came home to his little girl (after World War II, following 3 1/2 years in battle with German soldiers). But, little boys and girls never saw their daddies (and mommies) again! I am a grateful American! Freedom was won with the blood of our courageous men and women! I look forward to teaching my children about these heroes whom we honor this and every day! But, today is not a holiday in Honduras, so I am hoping to hear from our attorney. The committee did not meet two weeks ago, but they did meet last Friday. School ends this week...and starts again August 27th. I would so love to have the children home by then...13 weeks...praying specifically!

Tomorrow...

Matthew 6:34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  Each day has enough trouble of its own. 

Tomorrow will likely be the committee meeting in Honduras which paves the way for our first court date...but maybe not.  It is not that I am not hopeful...it is just that I have learned to wait patiently, because there is no certainty to this adoption process.  I want to plan so many things...but we continue to live in limbo...our reality for over 3 years.  I know that this is not only troublesome for us, but for everyone we engage with on a daily basis.  People like to make plans and I can't blame them...I do, too.  But, everything hangs in the balance as we await the outcome of this meeting! 

I dream of travelling to Honduras again, hugging the children, singing and playing and reading, memorizing scripture together, laughing and cuddling...getting passports, going to the Embassy, getting Visas, making plane reservations, saying Goodbye to Honduras and Hello to Houston, visiting family and friends, birthday parties, soccer games, piano lessons, Sunday school, new friends, swimming, enrolling in school, school shopping, girly girl shopping, scrapbooking, cooking, time with cousin, Daniel, Disney World, the Grand Canyon, learning the states, singing in the children's choir, morning routines, school lunches, night-time routines, evening prayers, family altar, Skyping with grandma, learning English, trips to Indiana, California, Illinois, Tennessee, Galveston, Dallas, South Padre Island, Washington, D.C., Alaska, family dinners, making tamales for Christmas, making tortillas together, relaxing at the lake....molding our children's character and teaching them life lessons, values and watching them grow in Christ.  So many dreams...so I wait another day...and another...and another...knowing that God's ways are not my ways, nor his thoughts, my thoughts (Isaiah 55:8).  Four Simple Words...."I trust you, Lord!"