Home for the Holidays!

Matthew 1:22-23(NIV) All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). God has been so faithful...ALWAYS with us! We have been home for over a week. So grateful for God's grace and provision the past two weeks. I have been suffering from shingles, probably from the stress of finishing the adoption and transitioning back to the United States. The children have started school; Jennifer is in 5th grade, Jefferson in 4th grade and Cristofer in 3rd grade. I love all of their teachers. We have a lot of work to do, but the kids seem to be adjusting well. We bought the children bicycles and the boys only used their training wheels for 3 days. They are all doing great with their bikes, with no serious falls. Their helmets are SO cute and we try to ride bikes every day. Our first day at church was wonderful, though our church has been mourning the death of a dear brother in Christ, Mando Moreno. Hermano, I thank you for your prayers! You will be so missed! I want to live like you did...loving and living a Christ-like life! Well done, Brother Mando!!! Brother Rene, Chef and owner of Azuca, prepared a wonderful meal after church of Paella and salad, for our Angel tree ministry. The kids LOVE salad!!! And Rene's salad was spring mix, but the kids ate every bite. I am looking forward to Christmas vacation...Aunt Kristy and Cousins Daniel and Brandon will be spending time with us; making cookies, going to the San Antonio riverwalk, miniature golf, bowling, etc. We will also be seeing Mariana and meeting Karla's new baby in Galveston over New Year's. Please continue to pray for us...each day has new challenges, but I am trying to focus on the many blessings that come from each adversity! Feliz Navidad...Dios les bendiga en 2013!

Precious Last Days in Honduras

We have been in such a whirlwind since my last post! Tuesday, November 27th, was such a difficult day. After waiting 5 hours for our doctor's appointment...the kids went through an AWFUL medical exam (I did not like our doctor at all...) and 8 injections EACH! DREADFUL!!! On Wednesday, November 28th, I was so down in the dumps! All of my anxieties regarding this adoption were heightened! We had not heard from the Embassy regarding the Visas...I couldn't understand what was taking so long. The biological parents and maternal grandmother had been interviewed the previous Wednesday (November 21st) and I was just ready for ANY decision! We knew that we would now have to wait until Monday, December 3rd for our earliest Embassy interview and we were just TIRED! On Thursday morning, at 7:15 am, the phone rang and it was our attorney. Reyes answered the phone and within seconds, I knew...we were APPROVED! Our whole lives had just changed! I wrote an email to the Embassy...it was 7:15...maybe they could get us in today (No embassy interviews on Friday). We received an email 30 minutes later...no, you are scheduled for Monday (GRATEFUL it was Monday actually, so decided to live with it). There was an attached packet of information...more forms...more lists of things to do. But the forms were confusing and I had questions, so I decided to take everything and head to the Embassy for clarification. I remembered that Americans could go to the Embassy for questions/issues Mon-Thurs at 10:00. CAVEAT...you must arrive by 9:30 and get on a list. Fortunately, they let me in...I got there at 9:40. Got my questions answered, saw what the process Monday would likely look like, asked again if we could be seen today...NO! And, went back to the hotel! You are not supposed to buy tickets until you have the Visa in your possession! Everyone knows this...anything could go wrong...a typo, a computer malfunction, etc. But with the holidays approaching, I kept looking at prices and decided to take a risk. Plane tickets for Saturday, December 8th were $150 one way (up from $89 one way two weeks ago...believe it or not)! I figured, the interview is Monday...given almost every possible scenario, I should have the Visa by Thursday and we can make the plane on Saturday. Within 6 hours of buying the plane tickets, the prices had gone up to $288. Friday was Reyes' birthday...he was not in a very celebratory mood so we just hung out. I called my benefits resource center (not easy to do, as I only had a 1-800 number and you cannot make those from Honduras---Thank you, Shaun, for coming to the rescue). I was able to use email to communicate with my Human Resources department and they wanted copies of the birth certificates and adoption decree. Could NOT find a fax machine within a mile and a half of the Humuya Inn. Fortunately, we were able to scan the documents at the hotel and email them to Houston. We had made plans to have lunch Saturday with our attorneys, Marta and Karla. We went up to the terrace a lot and played...tag, hide and seek and other games. The weather was BEAUTIFUL while we were in Tegucigalpa. No rain at all! On Saturday, we had to move to another apartment. It was very different from our first apartment...older, different style...more typical Honduran...but it was a change of scenery and kinda helped us with our transitions. Monday...the BIG day...we woke up at 4:00. We had to be at the Embassy by 6:30...pickup at 6:00. Noone was hungry and I assured Reyes that there were vending machines in the waiting room at the Embassy (with POPTARTS!!! Thanks AAFES). Don Julio, our AMAZING taxi driver...phone number 9930-1802...courteous, safe, protective and knows TEGUCIGALPA...we had an account with him and did not use anyone else...we saved so much money...picked us up at 6:00 and he was so happy for us! After waiting in line for 40 minutes, we were told that we were in the wrong line. (Line up on the right, not the left under the canopy) However, we were in the Embassy by 7:30 and labeled priority---adoptions are priority. From there on...everything is blurry...we were getting very hungry...having gotten up so early...but the vending machines were broken! We hadn't considered a back up plan and had no other food with us...You can bring your own snacks...but we did not. We were called up and told that once we paid the cashier ($230 each...13,662 lempiras total), we would immediately have our interview...this was at 10:15. Well, the cashier was closed...I complained...but was told that there was an emergency (an emergency! The cashier can just close and not have a backup cashier available). The cashier remained closed for over an HOUR! INSANITY! Finally, we paid the cashier...were called for our interview...recited an oath, in Spanish, to tell the truth, etc. Honestly, they were most interested in my HUSBAND'S immigration status than anything...which I found interesting, since he has been a permanent legal resident for over 10 years. (I know, I know...I have to make him study for his citizenship test...But, I heard him tell Don Julio that he plans to do that ...Yippee!!!) Within, 5 minutes, we had our final approval and I was given a pink slip to return at 2:45 to pick up the passports and visa packets. The Visas were BEAUTIFUL!!! Such a long, hard road, but I was so thrilled to be at the end!!! The children seemed to grasp the significance and decided that play time on the terrace that night...to say goodbye to Tegucigalpa...would be entirely in English! PROUD MAMA moment! They are learning it!!! We paid all of our bills...and were pretty much broke...on Tuesday morning, we headed to Cristina Transport to take the bus down the mountain. We got home to San Pedro Sula without incident. It was great to see the finished house (and the puppies). The new patio was my favorite part and I enjoyed sitting outside and just resting! It is time to say our goodbyes and pack to go home....I am ready to drive again...so many new experiences for all of us! Looking forward to every one of them...One more restless night in San Pedro Sula (Reyes killed a scorpion in the bathroom last night) and we are OFF!!!

Waiting for Approval

Monday update...no Embassy approval yet... Would freak out, but Thursday was Thanksgiving and Friday was likely a dud day, so hopefully tomorrow brings good news. We have our doctor's appt scheduled for tomorrow at 8:30. I was going to cancel it, but I decided to be bold and call Immigration Visa Services during their Monday & Weds 2-3:30 telephone hours and ask for our case number. She said, "We haven't received your approval, but I have your case number for BABY Bonilla". I said, "I'll take that!". So, I thought, I might as well be REALLY bold and ask all my questions....1) Can we get a vaccination exemption and get our vaccines in Texas? (I.e., use our insurance and save $1000)...answer: if yes, proof of vaccination has to be within 30 days of returning to the US and she will call the doctor and discuss our options with him.  2) Once we have an approval, when can we get a Visa appt?  She said "Use this special  email and it will be next day, as long as it is not a Friday...no Friday appts." Also, we Skyped with my best friend, Kelly, and her family! Love you, Kel...stay strong!   So, overall, a good day!

Great Week!

This week was much better than last week...We are finally in our huge apartment (two large bedrooms, big family room, great kitchen, awesome bathroom and a balcony)! We have prepared most meals at home and the kids have been very helpful in the kitchen. The kids like my cooking (except the hash browns...I think they just didn't understand what they were...very little exposure to potatoes). So, Sunday, Carrie and Chris came to the Humuya to visit. We decided to take them to the restaurant by the bowling alley, but everything was closed, due to election day. We just kept walking (such a beautiful day) and we ended up at the Mall Cascadas where we ate at TGIFriday's...this was the first sit down American restaurant the kids had eaten at besides Pizza Hut. It was very nice to visit with Christian friends who understand our Honduran adoption struggles, as they are also going through the same process. We were able to pick up some groceries at Walmart and have our taxi driver, Don Julio, take us back home and we moved into our apartment! Monday, we went to the Embassy. It was very chilly and the kids were freezing. After about an hour in line, our attorney helped us gain entry and we were ready to turn in our packet. We knew we were covered in prayer, as we went to the Immigration counter and met with an English speaking woman. Everything was in order, except we did not have a copy of our I171H. Marta arranged to have a copy emailed to her. Our pictures were the right sizes and she didn't need the little ones (though we found out we need two little ones for the doctor's office). I had left the questions blank about the children's orphan status, so I was asked to explain the whole story of the children's upbringing. We were told we would hear something soon. Marta was elated with how well things went with Melissa...I was in shock and asked her three times, "That was Melissa?". Melissa is the adoption investigator, not just an immigration officer. I had no idea and Marta said she had decided not to tell me, so I wouldn't be nervous...Good call, Marta! Within two hours, Marta received a call from Melissa that she needed to interview the biological parents and the children's grandmother on Wednesday at 1:00. This would not be easy to arrange, so Reyes decided to go home immediately to work on the details. He was out the door in 20 minutes! That left me alone with the children for the first time...we had fun! We played Monopoly, cooked together, went for walks and played on the terrace. We turned the bed sideways, against the wall, and slept side by side. This might work great for short people and little ones, but I am 5'8" so this was not very comfortable :) but the kids were scared, so it worked! Tuesday was our doctor's appt and TB test. I learned that the kids will need a lot of vaccines and I was not happy, nor were they. Cristofer became very upset during the TB test and that was heart breaking for me. Poor little guy! I also learned their height and weight...Jennifer is 55 inches and 59 pounds, Jefferson is 54 inches and 55 pounds and Cristofer is 50 inches and 48 pounds. As far as I know, Wednesday went well for our family members at the Embassy. We are still waiting to hear something. I canceled our dr appt and vaccines, since we still don't have a case number. My mother in law decided to stay with us for Thanksgiving. We made reservations for the Clarion. After watching the Macy's Parade, we headed to the Clarion. The food was good and the service was excellent . The Apple pie was amazing...the stuffing was very strange and the turkey was delicious. Today, we went to the Chiminike Children's Museum...it is $3.00 to enter...it is very nice and clean with great exhibits. We had a BLAST and the kids want to go back. We probably will at that price! No plans for tomorrow yet...hoping for an even better week next week!

Surviving...

Difficulties blogging from my IPad, so here is a brief update...we finally have all passports and birth certificates, after our atty made three trips from Tegucigalpa to San Pedro Sula. Special privilege is only given to children under 2 at the passport office...waits are awful! But the brand new, really nice City Mall is half a block away! We have an Infopass appt for 9:00 Monday at the Embassy to turn in packet with I600! Tuesday AM is our labwork and TB test, Friday morning is dr visit and reading of the tb test. Our new favorite activity is walking to the bowling alley and playing for 1-2 hours for $15-25 ...bonus that it doesn't involve a $10-20 taxi ride...and there are three decent restaurants in the plaza. We move from our refrigerator-less room to our apartment today...tough week, but we survived...getting closer...Jer. 29:11

Honduran Adoption Ups and Downs!

Hi everyone!  Wanted to share an update...to prepare everyone for what to expect in Honduras....Our atty came to San Pedro Sula last evening, from Tegucigalpa, to secure our new birth certificates for our children (one born in San Pedro Sula and the twins were born in El Progreso---so we had to visit two registrar's offices).  She was sure we would be able to get them today.  This was exciting for me, because I have heard stories that didn't match with that!  In SPS, we were in and out in 5 minutes and the registrar said that everything in our packet (final adoption registered with the govt, two newspaper articles listing us as the children's new parents, copies of our identification, certified copy of the IHFNA placement, certified copy of the adoption decree and certified copy of the children's original birth certificate) looked good and that it should be ready around noon.  We then went to El Progreso and were told that the registrar would need to review it and locate the original registration and that she wasn't there yet (8:45 AM).  She FINALLY arrived at 11:25...five minutes before the lunch break (11:30-1:00).  After pleading, we were allowed to stay in the building...they removed everyone else and locked the doors.  At 12:25, they started talking to us....and gave us a copy of Jennifer's birth certificate...it was very emotional for us!!!  HOWEVER, when I looked it over, my passport number was wrong.  They fixed it and when they went to print...CRASH...the system went down!!!  We asked how long it might take to come back up and she said 1-2 hours - one month!!!  No JOKE!  Well, we called SPS and they said the system was down there, too.  We decided, at 1:30, that we had a friend in the worker at Progreso, so we'd better head to SPS to see if we could be there to get Cristofer's birth certificate when the computers came back online, because we were almost done in Progreso and we had her number to be in touch as we headed back!  It's FRIDAY...and of course, NO BIRTH CERTIFICATES...The computers never came back up...so, we took our atty back to the bus station to return to Teguc.  We hadn't eaten or used the restroom all day...we were exhausted, drained and stressed and it was raining CATS and DOGS all day.  So, we will leave for Teguc tomorrow.  The WORST part is that our atty will have to return on Monday, because she will have to be there to finalize the birth certificates.  Another day delayed...Trying to stay positive, but it was TOUGH!  Thanks for reading and praying!  We love you!!!

WE ARE PARENTS!!!

GOD IS FAITHFUL!!!  DIOS ES FIEL!!!  We are officially PARENTS!!!  After being in Honduras for 26 days, we were finally able to sign the adoption decree.  On Thursday, we spoke with our attorney, Marta, and she said the adoption decree was ready and that she would send it, via bus, to San Pedro Sula to be signed and fingerprinted and returned to her, via bus, to Tegucigalpa.  On Friday, she called and said it was on the way and that we and the birth parents would have to sign.  This would be a slightly complicated situation as we are not always able to make contact with the biological father.  Nothing about this process has been easy!  

We took the boys with us to pick up the adoption decree while Jennifer was at practice for praise dance at church.  We stopped at Baleadas Express and had dinner...YUM!  When we arrived at the bus terminal (a rather scary place), the document was not there.  It was at the City Center bus terminal, in a part of San Pedro Sula that we were unwilling to travel to at night.  So, Reyes woke up early on Saturday and took a bus and a taxi to the other bus terminal and returned with the envelope!  It was exciting to read all 14 pages!!!  We then waited ALL DAY and into the late evening to sign the documents with the biological parents.   On Sunday morning, Reyes again woke up  very early to take the documents to make a copy before putting them on the first bus back to Tegucigalpa.  On Monday, our attorney presented the documents to the registrar's office.  We are waiting to hear from her today to determine if she will be coming to San Pedro Sula tomorrow to begin the process of obtaining the children's new birth certificates and passports.  After that is completed, we will go to Tegucigalpa and file our I600 at the U.S. Embassy.  We will have to take the children for medical exams and vaccines, then wait for our interview with the embassy to obtain Visas.  Though it will likely take a miracle, we are still hoping to be home for Thanksgiving.  I am at peace with the idea that we will not make it home until later in November; however, it is still a strong hope! =)  

The children are very excited to make the trip to Tegucigalpa and home to the United States.  They have their suitcases packed and ready to go!!!  I have found some cute YouTube videos of rhymes to teach English.  They are about 10 minutes long, so I am using these videos as an incentive for computer play time...watch the video...play on the computer for 15 minutes =)  I cannot wait to see how immersion goes when we get home...being at my mother in law's house has not allowed for much English immersion. 

Please keep us in your prayers as we are in the final stretch to returning home...there are still so many uncertainties and unknowns!  Enjoying the adventure and accepting the sacrifices!