Finally Spring has sprung...I was starting to think that it was never coming! Today was beautiful out and John, Sarah and I enjoyed the day outside. I did quite a bit of Joey shopping at Old Navy last week and bought tons of cute stuff to bring on our second visit trip in June. I never thought I would say this but it is kinda fun shopping for boys.
No new news on the adoption :( The Adoption Supervisors told us that they will touch base again on Monday or Tuesday with hopefully some good news that the paperwork that must be fixed is in court. Sometimes it just drives me nuts when I read through the forum groups that I participate in and see kids coming home at 5, 6, 7 mo. I mean I am happy for them, but so jealous! This process has literally taken us forever and yet some breeze through. I know that much of it is pure luck and that 99% of the time there is nothing that we can do to change things. I guess that is what makes it so frusturating. Oh well...just thought i would vent for a moment. Luckily we have a lot coming up in the next few weeks to keep us busy and hopefully my mind occupied!
Love,
Lee Anne
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Friday, April 20, 2007
Hokie Pride!!
John, Sarah and I want to say that our thoughts and prayers go out to the victims of Monday's Virginia Tech. massacare. Go Hokies!!
We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness ... We will prevail ...
-- Nikki Giovanni, University Distinguished Professor, poet, activist
We will continue to invent the future through our blood and tears and through all our sadness ... We will prevail ...
-- Nikki Giovanni, University Distinguished Professor, poet, activist
Monday, April 16, 2007
New pictures...he is the cutest!!!!!
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He looks wonderful and so big. We will be going for a second visit trip in June and bringing lots of clothes with us so that his foster mom, Yoli can snap his clothes shut! :) June just cannot come quick enough for me! Sarah still asks every single day, when is he coming home?? My answer...not soon enough!
Love,
Lee Anne and John
Thursday, April 12, 2007
March Medical update
Hi all, We received an email yesterday updating us on Joey's height, weight and head circ. He now weighs 19.8lbs, is 70cm and has a head circ. of 44cm. He is growing very well and on US growth charts plots in about the 75%.
We were also told that our agency is going to allow a visit trip in June and another one in August to celebrate his birthday! I never ever thought that we would be having a first birth day party at the Marriot in Guatemala City but there is nothing that we can do about it and I am certainly NOT going to miss that day. We have been informed by the Adoption Supervisors that our attorney has submitted the cedula (a kind of government ID card, that was not signed) to the civil registrars office so that they can gather all of the documents required to then submit back to the courts. Once the courts has reviewed all of the documents they will court order a signature. Seems so ridiculous to me!! But, we cannot dwell on these things that are completely out of our control...it would make us nuts. Hopefully this process will be completed in under the two month timeline that we were quoted. As it stands now we are planning to visit the weekend of June 15th for three days and then will go for about a week in August.
Keep us in your prayers.
Thanks for the support,
Lee Anne
We were also told that our agency is going to allow a visit trip in June and another one in August to celebrate his birthday! I never ever thought that we would be having a first birth day party at the Marriot in Guatemala City but there is nothing that we can do about it and I am certainly NOT going to miss that day. We have been informed by the Adoption Supervisors that our attorney has submitted the cedula (a kind of government ID card, that was not signed) to the civil registrars office so that they can gather all of the documents required to then submit back to the courts. Once the courts has reviewed all of the documents they will court order a signature. Seems so ridiculous to me!! But, we cannot dwell on these things that are completely out of our control...it would make us nuts. Hopefully this process will be completed in under the two month timeline that we were quoted. As it stands now we are planning to visit the weekend of June 15th for three days and then will go for about a week in August.
Keep us in your prayers.
Thanks for the support,
Lee Anne
Friday, April 06, 2007
Happy Easter!!
Happy Easter to all of our family and friends! Easter is the most important holiday in Guatemala so we know that Joey is partying with his foster mom, Yoli. I thought for a change I would post some interesting information about the culture in Guatemala (Thank you Trina)...
Antigua, Guatemala is home to the largest Easter celebration in the world in which the Passion, the Crucifix and the Resurrection of Jesus are commemorated. The procession is rooted in Andalusian tradition and was brought over by Spanish missionaries in the 16th Century. The entire city takes part in the event, accompanied by thousands of travelers coming to experience the energy of Holy Week.
The processions begin on Palm Sunday, with images of Jesus of Nazareth and the Holy Virgin of Sorrows being carried on floats from the churches on the shoulders of devotees. These floats can weigh up to several tons and require 50-100 people to bear the weight. The carriers, or cucuruchas, dress in traditional Maya costume on this day and recreate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. Although there is a definite level of social status involved in being a cucurucha, penance is the primary inspiration. Monday through Thursday, the streets are filled with similar events, in memory of his final days on Earth. Each evening, a funeral band plays outside of the church, and the people gather around for food, drink, and games.
On the afternoon of Good Friday, the city is dressed in black, along with its devotees. Black crepe paper is strung throughout town on the buildings and trees, and thousands of mourners clothed in black burn incense and carry lanterns. A man bearing the crucifix, followed by supporters carrying banners engraved with Jesus’ last words, leads the procession. The masses pray quietly, while some more emotional followers weep and perform penitence. The thickness of incense in the air, along with statues of a crucified Jesus creates a haunting atmosphere. The image of Christ is laid to rest in the church at 11 pm.
Holy Saturday’s funeral processions are dedicated to images of the Virgin Mary. These floats are relatively smaller and carried by women dressed in their best outfits and often in high heeled-shoes! Easter Sunday is a jubilant festival celebrating the Resurrection of Christ, and fireworks can be seen and heard throughout the city. The mood is casual and joyful on this day.One of the most impressive aspects of the Easter Festival (Semana Santa) in Antigua are the alfombras (Arabic word for carpet) that adorn the processional route. Residents along the streets begin preparations weeks and even months in advance creating these beautifully intricate offerings. Sand is first laid to level the cobblestone, followed by sawdust that has been collected and dyed to bright shades of yellow, red, blue, green, purple and black. Pine needles, flowers and native plants are also used for decoration and fragrance. The carpet designs reflect Maya tradition, biblical symbolism and scenes from nature. The art of carpet-making is thought of as sacrificial because of the intense detail and amount of time dedicated to their creation, only to be destroyed once the processions pass. This is a way for the people to give something of themselves in memory of Christ’s death. If there is more than one procession on a particular route, residents will make a new carpet for each following procession. Not only are the people busy making carpets in the weeks before the Easter Festival, but also vendors are getting ready for market by preparing local products in anticipation of the large crowds. The impressive flower markets and produce markets are enticingly colorful and fragrant. The Easter Festival is a wonderful time to travel to Guatemala to experience the fusion of Spanish and Indian culture and religion.
Enjoy your families today!
Love,
Lee and John
Antigua, Guatemala is home to the largest Easter celebration in the world in which the Passion, the Crucifix and the Resurrection of Jesus are commemorated. The procession is rooted in Andalusian tradition and was brought over by Spanish missionaries in the 16th Century. The entire city takes part in the event, accompanied by thousands of travelers coming to experience the energy of Holy Week.
The processions begin on Palm Sunday, with images of Jesus of Nazareth and the Holy Virgin of Sorrows being carried on floats from the churches on the shoulders of devotees. These floats can weigh up to several tons and require 50-100 people to bear the weight. The carriers, or cucuruchas, dress in traditional Maya costume on this day and recreate Jesus’ entrance into Jerusalem. Although there is a definite level of social status involved in being a cucurucha, penance is the primary inspiration. Monday through Thursday, the streets are filled with similar events, in memory of his final days on Earth. Each evening, a funeral band plays outside of the church, and the people gather around for food, drink, and games.
On the afternoon of Good Friday, the city is dressed in black, along with its devotees. Black crepe paper is strung throughout town on the buildings and trees, and thousands of mourners clothed in black burn incense and carry lanterns. A man bearing the crucifix, followed by supporters carrying banners engraved with Jesus’ last words, leads the procession. The masses pray quietly, while some more emotional followers weep and perform penitence. The thickness of incense in the air, along with statues of a crucified Jesus creates a haunting atmosphere. The image of Christ is laid to rest in the church at 11 pm.
Holy Saturday’s funeral processions are dedicated to images of the Virgin Mary. These floats are relatively smaller and carried by women dressed in their best outfits and often in high heeled-shoes! Easter Sunday is a jubilant festival celebrating the Resurrection of Christ, and fireworks can be seen and heard throughout the city. The mood is casual and joyful on this day.One of the most impressive aspects of the Easter Festival (Semana Santa) in Antigua are the alfombras (Arabic word for carpet) that adorn the processional route. Residents along the streets begin preparations weeks and even months in advance creating these beautifully intricate offerings. Sand is first laid to level the cobblestone, followed by sawdust that has been collected and dyed to bright shades of yellow, red, blue, green, purple and black. Pine needles, flowers and native plants are also used for decoration and fragrance. The carpet designs reflect Maya tradition, biblical symbolism and scenes from nature. The art of carpet-making is thought of as sacrificial because of the intense detail and amount of time dedicated to their creation, only to be destroyed once the processions pass. This is a way for the people to give something of themselves in memory of Christ’s death. If there is more than one procession on a particular route, residents will make a new carpet for each following procession. Not only are the people busy making carpets in the weeks before the Easter Festival, but also vendors are getting ready for market by preparing local products in anticipation of the large crowds. The impressive flower markets and produce markets are enticingly colorful and fragrant. The Easter Festival is a wonderful time to travel to Guatemala to experience the fusion of Spanish and Indian culture and religion.
Enjoy your families today!
Love,
Lee and John
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