NEWS

(from Baby Maya blog)
December, 2005

We have some EXCITING family news - you may want to sit down - Wayne and I are in the process of opening our hearts to welcome an addition to our family. We've begun the paperwork for an international adoption from Guatemala.

We'd love to hear from you and would very much appreciate your prayers as we move forward on our forever journey.

Here is what we know so far.....some people want to know each step, others not-so much, so please read as much or as little as you like!

Why a blog? Much like those much-maligned Christmas letters, it's hard to tell everyone what's going on without sounding like we're bragging or whining. It's a fine line! Trust us, we're as frightened as we are thrilled and this is more of a "we need your prayers" than "look at us".

Why adopt? Wow, the BIG question. I believe God has led me to do this. It happened in little pieces, that by themselves didn't mean a lot and the CLICK, it all snapped together and formed a picture.

Both of us have different reasons - and there are many! First and foremost, is our shared vision of the next thirty years and the role family plays in that.

Do you know what you're getting yourselves into? We're using humor very much to go through this, but despite the laughter, we are not taking this decision lightly. There are no guarantees and this is as big and as permanent a decision as we've ever made in our lives. But, we have even more reasons why we are looking past the negatives and taking a leap of faith.

Why international? Why Guatemala? Domestic, open adoption is a wonderful experience for many families. At our age, however, we feel that international adoption offers us increased surety as far as timing, cost, and security. Guatemala is a wonderful country. Unfortunately, there are many economic problems and this results in a number of children placed for adoption.

How long will you be in Guatemala? We hope to return to Guatemala a second time with our daughter to visit and explore the country, but on our first trip, we will only stay four days.

What agency are you using? We know someone personally who used an agency in Florida.

Where is the baby while you're waiting for the process to be completed? Maya is being cared for by a foster mother. She is taken to the doctor every month and we get the doctor's report and pictures. The agency director visits occasionally and sends us a dvd with video.

Isn't this expensive? You may have heard of families that need to borrow money or have fundraisers. We are fortunately in a position where we won't have to do this. The government actually strongly supports adoption - giving us a generous tax credit for a portion. We clearly won't be able to enjoy the single, selfish lifestyle we've had until now. There will be more camping than trips to Paris (smile). We'll adjust and are looking forward to the change as love and laughter multiplies, while our pockets empty.

Are you worried about health issues? Ask any prospective parent this question - yes, we are, but trust in God to only give us what he knows we can handle. There are no guarantees when a couple give birth either. Again, we are putting our faith in God to know our limitations.

What will you tell Maya about her birth parents? We don't know for sure, but we do know it won't be a secret that she is adopted - that we chose her. We don't feel it's anything to be ashamed of or to be kept hidden. Many children don't live wiht the mother AND father who are biologically related to them.

Help? Please pray for us. The paperwork is bizarre and about a million things can go wrong in the next few months. We would very much appreciate your prayers.