Maybe Tomorrow

Not much success today with adoption stuff..The papers I needed from my husband,Hap didnt arrive until late this afternoon so we were on HOLD. We did go to see Sandra therapist who told me that she thought things were great. That Sandra told her how safe and happy she is and that she is VERY happy that her Dad is coming in next week. Tomorrow we are to meet with Carlos at 8:30am and PRAY that all things work out. We are to go to DIF to get some papers we need for these adoption permits and hopefully pick up some papers that Gladney requested over a week ago..I have a list. That is one thing I have for sure learned here. You MUST stay at them. Mexicans just run on what we in Florida call island time. Just when they get to it. No hurries..But in our case I sure could use a LITTLE burst of "YAP" out of them..Well please continue to PRAY and I Pray that tomorrow will be the day we begin to really move forward again. One giant step for us and One GIANT blessing of GOD's.

Starting Refreshed

We will start new and hopefully refreshed in the morning. Just rested and chilled today and getting ready to go show everyone just how fast I am at going to sleep. Thanks for your interest in our lifes and for the prayers..AND I am pretty sure we will start seeing some awesome things taking place soon..God is GOOD..and I am trusting it all to him...In his wonderful love and grace..Have a blessed night...Love to all my family and friends[HAP I love you]

The Need to Be Creative

Well I just had to add a little more..We are having RAIN. In Florida this is nothing but here...I noticed this large puddle of water around my door..Seems that when I get rain here not only does our dirt road [about 1/2 mile] turn to sludge but my door also rains..I have mopped up a bucket full so far and have a towel there to slow the flow that is coming in...But I have learned that things are different here and you just do what needs to be done..I am beginning to think of other ideas for that duck tape...I plan on rigging something up to help with this problem..Out of all the years I have been coming down I have seen little rain..But last night we had some and now tonight somemore...SOOO..Hang on got to grap the mop...ok..I have a slow day tomorrow so I plan on being creative with this one..Any ideas out there...

The Party's Over

Today life is back to normal here in Juarez. All the other adopting families have headed back to the States and Sandra and I are trying to catch up on some rest from 2 days of none stop going. We slept in alittle this morning and then went to church. Stopped and picked up a few things at the grocery store and came home and did NOTHING. She fell asleep listening to music while I fixed some lunch . We ate then just zoned and watch TV. I really "zoned" because it is all in spanish and my brain just needed to shut down. She has gone with friends for 2 or 3 hours to hang and I plan on doing nothing.Well 2 hours have past since I type the last sentence.I just recieved a call from a another girl who was adopted 3 years ago and I am beginning to understand more of what to expect..These kids are amazing...She was adopted by a family from South Dakota. She was the ONLY mexican in the whole town..She had trouble adjusting...I can relate..I told her how I feel GOD has placed me here to experience what she has and what Sandra will experience in Florida..She said that she will stay in touch once we are back in Florida and try to help Sandra adjust...Thank you again GOD..Well I will close and Please continue to pray with us...And when I first wrote "lets see what GOD will do"" Man was that an understatement.....P.S. To my husband...I LOVE and MISS you very much and cant wait to see and touch you when you arrive on the 9th..we are counting the days...

Sunny Hot Days

We have hung out for the last two days with another american couple who are adopting also. We had a day at the pool today..AND MAN WAS IT HOT.It has been running around 100 degrees easy..I put on sun screen but still got red. But it helps me blend in better with a little darker color..Tonight Sandra got to go to the movies with a couple of her friends while I visited with 3 friends around the american strip here in Juarez. We have been very busy for the last few days with everyone and it has been nice. It actually has stirred up some emotions of home that I will have to deal with. I am really starting to miss it..BUT I KNOW that GOD has a plan and I am here to be a servert of his..That makes everything much easier when I look at it that way..I also think of what Sandra will feel when she arrives in the states in a strange place and know that this IS part of GOD's plan..I am looking forward to Tues and Wed. knowing that we are moving on with the adoption and not just sitting still..Once we have these permits things will begin to happen..Like her doctors exams and visa, passports etc...That will help to settle some of these feelings..And I am going to try and start getting more rest..I am use to about 8 hours of sleep a night..Since I have been here[3 weeks] I have been getting maybe 5 to 6 hours a night and I can feel that catching up with me..Please continue to pray for us..I am thankful that I can ask for this and appreciate all who do...

Old Friends..

Had another blessed day..We meet with another american couple who are adopting two siblings from the old orphanage we use to work with. Which is where Sandra was from too. Rafa was graduating from elementary school and we went..Then went to the orphanage they stay at for a pizza, cake and Ice cream party..There was a young girl Hap and I both fell in love with a couple of years ago[Estrella] that just happened to be at this orphangae today..HOW touching to have her run to you and hug you tight and tell you she missed you..And to ask about Hap..She has come a long way from where we saw her last...A friend from florida, Faith, who works with IFM also..I think I have mentioned her before, was there with her sister Debs.We got to visit with the other kids too. Sandra really enjoyed getting to see other kids that she had a close relationship with from the first orphanage she was in..I know it had memories for her but she did WELL..She is a terrific person and I am so grateful that GOD has let me have her as my daughter..She worked right along side the people on staff there and served the kids and was just like a big sister. I have posted a pic of the family that is adopting Rafa and Isamar. They are Krendi,Jason,their two boys and then Rafa and Isamar...Please dont ever forget to pray for us and the adoption permits and grace with the speed for these papers to travel.Not just us but the other families that are adopting too.There are alot that we know....Thanks to all..May GOD also bless you and your families ..In His love,,.

Our Neighbor Jaspar

This is one of my favorite neighbors, Jaspar. He is a great friend and look out.

Our Day in Court

WOW, what a day. Today was our day in court..I know I am American,because what I expected was not what happened at all. We met our translator Carlos and Lilly,a friend of his[another mexican witness for us] at 8:30. We were to be at DIF at 9:00. When we arrived, Sonja, our caseworker with the childrens services here greeted us and went over the question that she expected us to be asked. We all left together and I drove the few miles to the courts. We arrived there and checked in and started our wait. During this time Sonja pointed our the judge to me and said that would be who we were to see. After about 45 mins or so they called us back. Well instead of going into the judges chambers, as we call it in the states, we went back to a little cubical and sat down. We had to have copies of all of our IDs. Mine, ofcourse was my passport,Sandra's was her school ID, and Carlos and Lillys was a mexican ID of some kind. There was a lady there who was at a computer that began to type. After a few minutes she asked me how old I was, my home address in Florida and where I was born. Then they asked Carlos and Sandra to please go to the waiting area. The lady and Sonja began to ask just a few questions of Lilly and then told her to go get Carlos and wait. Carlos came and they asked him about the same few questions and then asked Carlos and myself to go and send Sandra back. She went and wasnt back there maybe 5 mins and came out with Sonja. Sonja said that was it. To call her on Monday that she was going to request our tourist visas and some other things back from the courts and that we could pick them up on Tuesday and go to Immigration at the border and get our adoption permit. Then to get it back to her quickly so it could be sent off and get thru Chihuahua by the 17th of July when all the government people go on vacation. From there it goes to Mexico City..We said good-bye and as soon as we were out of there I asked "What just happened?" Carlos said that was it. He was surprised because he wasnt asked much of anything and neither was Lilly. Just simple questions like -Are they good people and do you think they will take good care of Sandra.- Sandra was asked if she wanted to be adopted and why. GOD never ceases to amaze me with his ways. So we are again moving FORWARD. Let all the PRAISES and GLORY be given to GOD. I am just so humbled to be able to be in the middle of how he is working. To be around people who completely rely on GOD and his words to them. What an example. I pray to be more that person.

The Bonds are Growing

It has been a regular day..We went and did a little shopping, stopped and let Sandra see her old housemom, went and got a couple of good music cd's for her and came back home. Our prayers were answered today. WE HAVE OUR DAY IN COURT TOMORROW. Somewhere around 10 or 11 am. Thanks to all who helped to lift our words of need to GOD. Sandra and I are communicating better. She is starting to really recognize more english words and I can feel a trust with working with me on it. We have been preparing for friends that adopting to arrive tomorrow night. We will all get to hang out over the weekend and Sandra will get to see more of the kids she has a connection too. She is such a wonderful girl. She has a big heart just alot of walls that are beginning to get cracks..THANK YOU GOD.. His jack hammmer is so strong. And I know that his mortar will fill those cracks with his wisdom and love. Our home here is feeling more and more like a home but I really miss Hap. He hopes to come and visit in a couple of weeks and I KNOW that this will be very good for Sandra.She really needs to see us as a couple.She doesnt understand a relationship between a husband and wife. But GOD has placed her with us to learn and we will do our best, with christ, to teach her.Hap is doing a great job of holding things together at home in Florida. My mom and her health and mind are not the best. But I thank GOD everyday for a husband like I have who is willing to do ANYTHING to help. I have a brother who also steps in when he can to help too. His wife has been very sick so I know he has alot on him too. I will try and do more pics tomorrow..It is hard to take pics and not look like an outsider. Our prayer is for GOD's peace and strength and that our will diminish and his to take over...As humans this is so hard ..To just release all our thoughts and care and TRUST everything to him...GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME. and HIS WAYS ARE NOT OURS. I give all of me to him and pray for a soft heart, open ears to hear and his thoughts to follow through. In JESUS' NAME....AND WE ALL SAID "AMEN"

Our Apartment and Transportation

Only GOD Knows the Day

Today has been good. We have had to give everything to GOD and know he has a plan. Still no word for the court date. But GOD knows that day and the outcome. We went for therapy today and the therapist says things are going well. She sees Sandra and then me and then both together. We are making process in the bonding which makes me very happy. We noticed this morning that the military was out in great numbers. We had two check points within a mile. Thank GOD they had about 8 to 10 vehicles pulled already so we passed on thru. GOD has been good in that area. Seems the killings have increase yesterday and they expected more today so they had the military everywhere. So we did what we needed to do and came home. We did a little shopping. Another family that is adopting Rafa and Isamar, two of the other kids from the old orphanage,are coming in this Friday so we wanted to get swim suits so we can hang out at the HOTEL with them while they are here this weekend.Sandra is excited to get to see more of the kids from the old Orphanage..It is their only real connection to family and it really helps them. We watched a movie here at the house in english and I translated on the computer the first go round and then she wanted to watch it again and told me she wanted to do it alone to see if it would help her with her english. She is trying in her way and I am very thankful. I am looking at airplane tickets for Hap to come back in a couple of weeks for a long weekend. We are both very excited for that to happen. She longs to see him and misses him very much. I really really miss him and it will be good for all three of us to be together so she can see how a family operates. She had asked to do something with some friends and I told her that we had to ask Dad. It was hard for her to understand that this is what parents do. We discuss things and make the final decision together. She told the translator that this was weird. He is a wonderful christain man and explained to her that he didnt have a father but his uncles played that role and helped to make him who he is today. And that he was thankful for them. CARLOS GALAVIZ. If there is anyone that has plans to be here in Juarez I HIGHLY recommend him for anything from translating to just getting around the city. GOD has given him the gift of serving others and he walks that path with grace. He use to work with MISSION DISCOVERY but since all the violence started here groups have not been coming in so he has lost alot of income and by the grace of GOD has been able to go back to school to be a nurse. He has two years left but knows that his days of serving GOD are only beginning in a different way. His whole family works for GOD and are very humble people. Well I am going to try and put some photos of our apartment on here. We have a nice small apartment with one big room downstairs that is our kitchen and livingroom and then upstairs is a bedroom and bath. Please again I ask that everyone pray for us and our process and whatever it is GOD is doing and that we might speed along and be home when GOD's time is right.

A Good Day

This is a day that the LORD has made and I rejoiced and was glad in it. No news of a court time yet...Just PRAYER.. And a release that it will be in GOD's perfect time. We helped out Qwen , another women adopting, today by picking up her two kids from school. They are 14 and 15 years old. Lucero and noe'. Noe' needed to go to the border and meet someone that would bring some papers to sign. We drove and parked the van and then walked over the bridge. There is a sign on the bridge that shows where the US/MEXICO line is..so Sandra actually stepped on US concrete..Well its a start and then we just went to where they check your passports in the immigration building and sat down and waited for John Lambert,everyone's friend and helper,to bring the papers. We watched as two different people were brought in handcuffed. Dont know the details and dont want too..Once John arrived the papers were signed and we were on our way..We came back and dropped off Noe' and Lucero and just came home and watched movies and ate and watched movies and ate..It was the first really chill afternoon and evening that I remember..It is only 9pm here and I think I am going to bed...So I do have a few pics I will try and put on tomorrow..I somehow lost all the pics I had on my camera..There were some important ones but they were only pics. so I will take somemore and this time download them daily and get them on here.

Anyone Need Some Duck Tape?

What a much slower day. We slept in a little this morning and then headed to Sandra's church. Afterwards an amiga of hers came home with us. Soon after arriving home there was a knock at the door and to our much THANKFUL amazement there were the guys to hook up our REAL electric. NO MORE DUCK TAPE AND CORDS. Thank you LORD! It has been 12 days of plug in-unplug, tape-more tape,more tape. We chilled much of the afternoon and then headed over to Carlos and his mothers for some real homemade Mole'. Chicken with chocolate and peanut butter and chilis..I know it sounds weird but you better try it..We were both tired from our partying last night so we came home early. Gwen, the lady who helped us find this place called and asked if we can pick up her son tomorrow and take him to the free bridge so he can walk to the line and let Gwen ,who will be in the state side tomorrow, sign some adoption papers and get them back to El Paso. She is caught in the middle of changing adoption protocol and has one adopted girl who can go to the states and her son[the girls brother] who has not been able to finish his paperwork yet. He can not cross. So Gwen is having to stay here in Juarez also and just lives around the corner from us at a ywam facility. I am really starting to meet more people caught in adoption craziness which lets me know I am normal. "NORMAL" whats that?
On a closing note PLEASE PRAY for GOD"S will to be done and our appointment with the judge to be smooth and grace filled. Hopefully that will be Tues.morning. Here you just get a short notice as to when to appear so you just stay ready. We found that out months ago when Mexico would call and say "oh yes, you have an appointment at 9am in the morning. Please be here..It is easier being here to do that then from Florida..

The Start of Trying

It has been a very busy two days. Yesterday Sandra had her graduation. It was wonderful. It is just like our high school grad. but for middle. Carlos, Faith and her family all joined us for the event then we went for pizza. We had just enough time to come home shower and get ready for the Quinceanera. Just 2 blocks before we arrive for that event Sandra remembered she had forgotten the cards and gifts for her friends, so I dropped her off and make the 45 min. track back to the house to retrieve them and made it back in plenty of time for MY FIRST quinceanera..Oh my, what a party...and party...and party. We didnt arrive home until 2:30am. But if was great to experience that part of the culture..Today will be slow..church then some rest. After that we head over to Carlos' house for my favorite Mo'le. Not sure of that spelling but I for sure know that taste. Now that school is out and all of the getting ready for the partys and pics,etc... our main goal will be to begin her on trying to spell some english. I have been "trying' to speak quite abit in spanish, but I think the time has come to get her "trying' to speak english. Please pray. She is a very smart girl but she doesnt seem to believe that..

You Can Comment Now.[I think]

Some of the people had told me that they were having trouble writin comments. A friend from church suggested I go to the settings and see what I could do..I did , so when you want try to do comments now...Good luck and GOD's Blessing to all..GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME>>..

Day by Day

Today was a day to walk by faith and not by sight. We met with Carlos,the translator, and went back to Dif and left our originals. It was that or delay our court date next week. God has a plan and we will follow. Then we shopped for everything that we will need for the quinceanera's tomorrow and graduation for Sandra from middle school. At 3pm we went and pick-up her graduation pictures that were beautiful. She is sssooo pretty. I hope to post a pic of her soon. They we went to the place she lived before we arrived and help to clean and set up for the big parties tomorrow..Faith , a friend from our church back home and 2 of her sisters, Pam and her daughter Hannah, and Deb her other sister came for dinner and it was great just to have other women that I can fully understand to talk and chat with. After they left our neighbors on one side had blown their electric box by running the air cooler and microwave at the same time. I saw Ale, the wife sitting out in her car and invited her in with her two kids to relax until their power could be fixed..But as for us still no real electric..but we will continue to walk by faith and trust GOD to provide our needs...each day...Day by Day...

Blessings Since We Arrived

I wanted to just list out all of the BLESSINGS from GOD that have happened since we arrived here to do this adoption..First the wonderful blessing of getting custody of Sandra. Our transportation. We looked for a used car when we first arrived and on our second day ,Mark and Candy Pryor from IFM wanted to bless us with a van to drive while we were here..Then we found the perfect apartment and looked for furnishings to no avail that day. Well when we arrived back at IFM, Georgia[mother of Bacaville in Fabens] and the Pryors took care of almost everything again..GOD bless these people. The apartment didnt have electricity so the neighbors on one side said we could use an extension cord till the wiring could be hooked up..[We expect real power anyday,we have alot of cords]The other neighbor blessed us with running off his wireless internet..Thank you JESUS for that because the language for Sandra and I has been a big obstacle and thanks to google translate we can pretty much talk.Oh yes both of these neighbors work for YWAM[Youth with a mission] Then our translator,Carlos Galaviz has been a GOD sent angel. His whole family..He is on call 24\7 to help with translations and anything that comes up..The home where Sandra was has been great too. Casa Eudes. They check on her often and call at just the right moment when her emotions are out of sync.,I dont know how they do that except through Jesus.I think they would do anything to help.Also Faith Rakowski and John Lambert who are just over the border in Fabens and stop in for support. My church family back home,Crossroads Community Church, who I know are praying and someone is always sending e-mail support just when I need it or scripture that is directly from GOD just when its needed.I am sure there is something I have overlooked. I just want to THANK GOD for all he is doing in my life and for all those people who choose to follow where GOD leads,,. I want to give Beth Cheek at Gladney Center for Adoption a big THANK YOU for being a blessing too. She has worked very hard at helping us figure out what is going on here and how we are going to do it..and in turn will be able to help other adoptive parents learn the ropes of adopting out of Juarez.My friends back in Auburndale, who call to check me and help lift my spirits. Then finally MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND, Hap, who is trying to keep things going in Florida. I love you and thank you for being a Godly man and listening to GOD. I have so much to thank God for ...EVERY DAY IS A BLESSING from GOD...

Understand DIF??? [children's services for Juarez]

The day started out wonderful. Overcast,so it wasnt so hot,and a good nights rest. We met Carlos at 9:00 and went to have some originals of our "07" and "08" income tax returns,business license and utility bills notorized here. We had already had them translated,notarized and apostilled in FLorida but for some reason they wanted the originals notorized here. We went to the notary and they wanted translations of these things. So we drove to DIF to get them and they had already sent them to the judges office. So I just left the originals of our income tax returns and utility bills but I could not leave the business license. All of us from the US know that we are suppose to have the license visible on your place of business. We have been trying to find out if the attorney here has a copy of the translation but if she doesnt I will be forced to leave the original business license or miss the date with the judge next week. Which in turn will take more time..SO after talking to Hap he said leave the original. So tomorrow we will drive back to DIF and do that if we dont recieve a call from the attorney tonight.[For others adopting,MAKE COPIES OF EVEN THE TRANSLATIONS]But I know GOD has a plan here..I just didnt understand it today. I have had to walk in FAITH and not sight today...Sandra went to her school party at her friends house today and had a blast. She was there till 6:30. While she was gone I went to the store and bought another fan and tried to find somethings to hang on the walls of our apartment to make it look like home..But for some reason I could not find one thing out of 3 stores..I ended up getting a twin sheet and just hanging it up..It is orange and green flowers...At least it is something..I guess I will have to go to the American strip where I saw a Sears and find something. But the day has been great.I can feel a bond starting with me and Sandra. She actually called me her mom to a friend of hers on the phone..That was music to my ears...THANK YOU GOD...

On the Town with the Girls

WOW What a day..Sandra's amiga spent the night and this morning we headed out for a day of shopping..Now anyone who knows me knows this had to be quite the experince..We have alot of events coming up the next few days. Tomorrow they are having a graduation party at her amiga's house, fri. school photos,Saturday morning is the graduation,saturday afternoon we go to Carlos's[his mother is fixing mole]and then Saturday evening 7 girls at the boarding school Sandra was in are having their quinceanera,which is the big 15 here in Mexico..Huge FIESTA...So we need the right attire...First we headed over to the American Strip..They have a mall there that has a Sears...We had a blast riding the escalator...I think the girls were amazed..Then to a Walmart..then to visti centro which is a stirp plaza.and last but not least a ride to DOWNTOWN JUAREZ to the market area...WHAT A TRIP...the driving is incredible..you just drive,I MEAN DDDRRRIIIVVVVEEEE....We found everything we needed and saw a couple of interesting shows on the street..The feds [about 20 of them] had one guy, and then there were the guys checking out my two girls...SO...I just blew up like a rooster and walk with power to take care of my girls...Of course we had no problems..It was REALLY FUN....Then we took Sandra's friend,Ivon home and Sandra asked to stay and visit a few hours..I met Ivon's mother and brother and they are a very nice family with a nice home...So I am just CHILLIN here with the fans on trying to stay cool..temps have been, I's say around 100..Things are GOOD..Carlos just called and he has some papers we have to have notarized in the morning and take to DIF. AND then the first of next week we go before the judge...PRAY,PRAY,PRAY,PRAY,PRAY..GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME...gotta go...
Have to go get my DAUGHTER..................

About the comment spaces

If anyone has looked at the comment space and wondered why I would be commenting on myself its not me..Hap has been working on creative ways to send us messages and this is one of them...He has found he can log in as me and do it...For some reason Hap and others have not been able to comment..so if you see some crazy sounding comments please remember it is a man missing his wife and new daughter very much....

Learning the Ways

Today started well..We had to head out about 8am to drive around to the middle of Juarez to meet with Carlos,the translator[an angel from GOD] to take our girl to check in at DIF to see that all is ok. It went well and I had to sign a medical release saying that I am responsible now..Then it was off to the therapist..Sandra went in first and then they called me back.[the translator was there of course]. Things went well as Sandra voiced her concerns with fears and insecurities...and I tried hard to bring those things to rest "for today"...She has alot of things to work out as do we...She misses Hap and wished he could be here also..But how do you explain that there is a life that MUST be handled in Florida too. I tried to reassure her that we are both here for her and soon we will all be together..Hap WILL come to visit and we will be ok..That he worries for us as a father and husband worries...But then she doesnt know what that is..much less what a mother even is..GOD IS GOOD>>>ALL THE TIME>>> We have homework to do and will continue to see the therapist once a week..This will not only help her but me too..Then we head to school. We arrived early and so she asked if she could go to a friends casa and walk to school with her.It was just a few blocks from the school. I thought after seeing the house that this would be ok...The mother was home ....I drove away and soon spoke to Hap and we decided I should drive back[I was only about 4 miles away]and check..Well I was busted..she saw me...But I think this helped her understand a parents worries...I came on home and soon my mexico cell rang and of course the call was dropped and in no time there was a knock at the door and there was my girl with a friend and 2 of the house mothers where she use to stay..School here, as with many things, just decided to not hold classes. The call that was dropped earlier was Sandra trying to tell me she needed me to come to get her...But what a wise girl,she called the backup and arrived home safely..That didnt help my guilt at all...But PRAISE GOD all worked out..She also brought a friend from school home to spend the night..It has been nice to hear the sound of girls just "hanging out" while a mother cooks..Then John,a good friend from IFM that we have mentioned before, showed up for a short visit. He leaves and then Faith,another great friend from home and IFM[she works for them too.]came for supper and we all had a great time..The girls are just chillin out front as I prepare to retire. I havent had much sleep in 10 days and I can tell you that this process can be very tiring..THings are great..our papers are to go before the judge the first of next week and then they head to Mexico City..THIS IS WHERE we need all the prayers you can give...For GOD's speed to mexico city and back..GOD knows our needs and Sandra's and it WILL be in his time.My wonderful husband misses us and needs us very much. But he is also needed very much at home..His work and my mother who is 84 and requires quite abit of care..Our home there..bills..etc..BUT GOD knows our needs and in his time..PRAY>>>PRAY>>>PRAY..

Another New Day

Well here I am alone at the case. It was Sandra's first day to school since we arrived. I feel like a mother who dropped her child off for their first day of school. I know she is fine but for some reason I am feeling emotions. To just leave her alone to cross the street in this HUGE city..Like shes never done it before..HAHA..Anyway things are good today..A good friend,Krendi, sent us a different link, google translator.[and I thought babelfish was good]. We were actually chatting back and forth this morning. Sandra's schedule for school is 1:30 to 7:30, so this will give me some time to catch everyone up on whats going on.. I am working hard to understand the language. It is like a different world here. But all in all things are good. I do miss home and my family . But I know that GOD has set these things in motion so that I will feel the feelings that she will have when she enters our world in the United States.

Her and I

Well we have spent our first two nights alone. Hap headed home on Sat. and so yesterday was our first day alone. We headed to church early and I noticed that she seemed to get into deep thought about half way thru. Well we arrived back home and started cooking lunch and next I knew she was visually upset and went up stairs..Well I started praying and praying for God to give her peace and within 3 minutes my mex. cell phone rang and it was her house mother from the home she stayed at before I arrived..They talked and then we attempted to talk.[me and the mother] to not much avail so I called our wonderful translator, Carlos, and he met us at the old home. When we arrived there was Sandra's therapist, a great lady called Victoria, and Sandra spoke to her and then Sandra spoke with Carlos and his mother and me...Well God began to REALLY move and Carlos and his mother began to pray over Sandra and I and soon things began to calm..Then Sandra and I and the therapist sat down and talked and we will have therapy every tues. morning...Since yesterday there has been a very nice calm and peace that I feel..Please pray for us. The language is
REALLY a big hurdle..For both of us ....We have found Babel Fish which has been a great gift from GOD..And I believe that God has set this order of things to be so that the transition for her will not be so hard..I cant imagine what it would have been like for her to have gone straight to Florida...I also feel like GOD is giving me a taste of what she will be feeling when she arrives in Florida by placing me in this VERY unfamiliar world for a time..and trust me as an adult it is tough.,. Can speak but a little of the language..all the signs, the prices..everything...Please remember us both in your prayers, and Hap too..I know this is very hard for him to have his two girls here without him....

We are here

We are here in Juarez..living..for awhile...We just got internet access by a blessing from a neighbor..first we had to get a notebook..these things are cool..Then find a place to stay..but for tonight we have our girl..PLEASE everyone who reads this please pray for GOD's mercy and grace to be that we have her home soon. And when I have time to tell all that HE OUR GOD has done so far..anything is possible...Hap headed back to Florida today so it is just Sandra and I..We have a one bedroom, to story casa in Sauzal..a colonia just bearly out of the metro of Juarez...We have canadian ywam people on one side and Mexicano ywam on the other..GOD is so GOOD>>When I have more time I will fill you in..We have been VERY busy..but I promise to catch you up soon..It is late and our first night alone and Sandra just headed up so I am going to bed also..GODS BLESSINGS TO ALL as we have also recieved...

Preparing

Sorry that it has been so many days without an update BUT.....BUSY busy busy.....ok..We met our tranlator,Carlos, Monday and went to meet with our attorney who didnt have the best news, ..she said just sign some papers and then we could go home..That it would take 3 or so months for things to start moving. After that we went to the 1pm meeting with DIF[childrens services here in Juarez] and to our surprise it was totally different.We signed some papers,went and got a tourist visa so that we could get a file # and then they said come back at 6pm for an interview with the Sandra's therapist,and that Sandra would also be there. We returned at 6pm and waited a few mins. or so and in came our girl. Words can't tell you what went on[or pics,We forgot the camera was even there]...TEARS AND HUGS AND TEARS AND HUGS..for about 10 minutes...Then her therapist came and asked for her..She was gone a few more minutes and when she returned they didnt even ask to speak to us. They just gave us permission to go out for 2 hours to visit..Come to find out all they wanted to do was to see our reactions at seeing each other after so long...WHAT A BLESSING for GOD...I am so thankful...anyway it turns out that, they said ,if I would drive her and forth to school and her therapy time then she could come and stay with me if I found an apartment. WELL we did and have spent 2 days getting it ready, even thought I just have a drop cord for electric to a real cool neighbor that works for YWAM...Hope to have REAL electic [real for mexico anyway] by next week. Let me tell you about all the blessings that GOD has done for us...First there was a auto...we were looking to purchase a used one and up came a couple, Mark and Candy Pryor, the directors of IFM[International Family Ministrys], and BLESSED us with a van to use while here...Then we needed to funish the apartment and again GOD sent almost all our needs thru Georgia, the woman who runs the home I mentioned earlier in Fabens,TX.[Bacaville] ....I have so much I have left out but I am very tired and we have to cross tomorrow....Hap will be heading home on Saturday afternoon and please keep him in your prayers and also myself, He is VERY nervous about leaving me but GOD has opened downs that I'm not sure everyone adopting would have.....I will be getting a laptop because one neighbor said I could use his wireless connection..More BLESSINGS..GOD is good..PLEASE pray with us...In his love,,,until next time....

In Fabens

Good morning...We spent the night in a town called Fabens which is right along the border..We came to International Family Ministrys this morning for breakfast and got to see alot of people we havent seen in along time..We knew them back when I served on the board for an orphanage in san augustin, Mexico...Great time..and hopefully later I will have a way to put some pics on here of this ministry to view..We also got to meet a really cool lady that runs a Home here in fabens for kids who have come into hard times..like parents who have to return to Juarez and cant care for the kids or just hard time..The home is called Bacaville...Georgia, the lady who has run it since 1978, is really neat..She has 11 kids now ranging from 4 to 17 years of age...She has done this privately with only the help of very generous people here in the states...International Family Ministrys is being kind enough to let us come here for our meals..Great meal of chicken last night and a wonderful real burrito this morning...I am now in their office getting to use their computer until I find one of my own...Now for the real reason many of you are here...OUR ADOPTION details.....We are waiting to contact Carlos, our translator, to find out the details of our day tomorrow...I know we have to take our drug test before our meeting with DIF at 1pm tomorrow...He is in church right now...So hopefully later we will know this info...Also we are going out to look for an car to drive while we are here...THought it would be a better idea to just buy a older car than to be driving around in Juarez in a new shining rental car and looking like a good target...american tourists....So thats our plan for today....We are expecting a very good friendFaith , from our church back home, to arrive back here today from a trip of a few weeks..She also works for International Family Ministrys...[Or IFM]...So please keep us in your prayers and hopefully will be getting some pics of the people here at IFM and from Georgia's Bacaville kids on here later today...In His LOVE,,sharon and hap

Just a note

Please bear with me as I begin this thing called blogging..This is also my first time blogging and writing for others to view. I promise to get better at putting things together and getting my writing skills up to speed. THANK YOU....IN HIS LOVE< sharon

Leaving Home

Well today we are starting our journey..Our plane leaves at 2:05 from Orlando...I am really starting to get excited. We have our first meeting with DIF, the childrens services in Juarez Mexico , on Monday at 1pm. We will arrive in El Paso at 7:35pm. Our good friend John from International family ministrys, will be picking us at the airport and taking us to his house for the first few days. Please keep us in your prayers to have grace in our meeting on Monday. We PRAY to get to see Sandra soon.. It has been a year since we have been able to see her..It seems that once you start your adoption you are not allowed to visit until certain papers are complete. Once I figure out what these are I will be sure to let you know so that if anyone else is trying this you wont have this same problem. I am pretty sure that it is the package that DIF wants and something from uscis. I have been told just recently that the childrens services here in Juarez works differently that any other place in Mexico. SO the next few days will tell... One hightlight for today is that we are meeting with Beth Cheek, our caseworker with Gladney Center for Adoption, at the Dallas airport for Dinner during our layover. This will be our first meeting face to face since we started this months ago..We have been in constant contact by e-mail and phone, and could never have come this far without her..I am very excited to see the face behind all the letters and meet this wonderful person...I will close out for now and look forward to sharing our trip with everyone...Please remember us in your prayers ...