But of course!

I'm flying home tomorrow....with my two girls, one of whom is the proud new holder of not only a Birth Certificate but also a Peruvian passport AND an American VISA!  

Yesterday machinery broke down in government offices, banks gave me trouble over payment of fees, traffic was locked up tight blocking where we needed to go, personnel looked at me and told me it really couldn't be done and on and on...but those are such little things to our God.  I was handed the first document I needed at 9 a.m. and the last one at 6:30 p.m.  Complete to the last detail.  

When little C wakes up in the morning she usually sits quietly in her bed and waits for someone to tell her it's time to get up...I suppose they trained her to do that at the orphanage.  She woke up probably at 3 a.m. this morning and rather than sitting quietly as she did when she was an orphan, she came to find her mom.  I woke up to the sounds of little footsteps in the dark and pulled her into bed with me.  She curled up next to me and lay there quietly for a little while with her head next to mine on the pillow and her eyes open.  After a little she looked at me solemnly and whispered, "Mami, te quiero mucho." ("I love you lots, mommy")  That was yesterday's biggest miracle.  Our little one is starting to realize she is an orphan no more.  Our God is great. 

 Thank you for your prayers and comments, they have blessed and encouraged me so much during this  trying week.

Soli Deo Gloria!!!

Can it be done???

I've translations of documents to complete yet so I won't be wordy.  I still do not have a valid birth certificate.  In order to travel on Sunday I have to accomplish TODAY:

1.  Getting a valid birth certificate
2.  Paying the bank, picking up an additional copy of the verification of Tomi's power of attorney and getting to immigration to have them issue a Peruvian passport
3.  Completing translation of the birth certificate and getting to the American embassy before 5 to see if they will produce a VISA before closing.

And that's it.  I have not been promised a birth certificate for today.  I have been told it will probably not be ready until after Christmas.  Add to that horrific traffic and long traveling between each of the above numbers in a taxi with 2 girls.  

God can do the impossible if He wills.  Please pray that we will accept His will for us (all 3 of us are exhausted and wanting to be reunited with our family) and bring Him glory in whatever today brings.

Thanks for upholding us dear friends!!

Paperwork update Dec 18th

Again for the followers, you'll be able to tell who is posting by the simple language. 
It seems that we are making some progress, the daily impossible tasks keep coming, but somehow with God's grace we seem to be able to overcome them one at a time. 
Hopefully today we will have everything ready to turn in to the RENIEC to generate the birth certificate. Appreciate your prayers and support. We hope to be reunited by the weekend, we'll have to deal with the passport as soon as we get the birth certificate. Still God taking us by His hand every step of the way. Keep praying for Debbie's and the girl's patience and endurance. 

Delays, Birthdays and Dirty Feet

Here we are...no progress.  Progress means moving forward, right???...So the new paperwork problem that has surfaced isn't progress.  It's all too complicated so I won't go into it...you probably wouldn't believe me if I told you anyway...I'm not sure we do.  It's all in God's hands, it'll work out in the end.

In the meantime we're entertaining ourselves...I'm washing (by machine, thankfully!!) and hanging out clothes (amazing how much time that all takes...), alternately getting beat at ping pong (I could beat both boys when we arrived, now I'm just trying to retain my dignity) and responding to "mami!!!" all day : ), my hubby has bought the boys some old-school wooden tops and taught them how to throw them (their grandpa is teaching them how to pick them up so they spin on their hands) and the girls run up and down the 3 floors of stairs collecting dirt.  Bathtime is not just a fun soak for those two...it's a serious necessity!

There's not much else to tell...we're waiting and trusting.  Oh, and the pictures are downloading again, yay!!  

Birthdays and Beyond

Been having trouble with both internet and downloading pics from my camera over the last few days.  I'll sum up what you've missed....
C is loving life with her family in Lima.  We had a birthday celebration with lots of extended family and all we heard all day was "torta!"  (Cake)  C was very excited and loved getting into her dress and tights. ( Dressing up is one of this girly-girl's favorite things.)  In addition, she's gotten to walk around barefoot for the first time and thinks it's the best thing ever.  I have an awesome tiny grimy feet pic that I'll hope to be able to post soon.

On the down side, we're scheduled to leave Lima on Sunday and it doesn't look like the girls and I will be able to go.  NO PROGRESS AT ALL ON THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE.  Sigh.  We're in a complete deadlock and hoping someone will be able to do something helpful to get things rolling again.  We're knocking on doors trying to see who knows who but the truth of the matter is, our contact goes right to the Top.  Our God directs men's thoughts and hearts and is completely in control of this situation, we know.  Please pray that He will do what glorifies Him the most in this and that He will help us to wait on Him faithfully...oh, and that we'd have pictures to post again soon!! : )

Back in Lima!

We are beyond thrilled to be back in Lima...back to family and internet connection!!  We were not able to get C's birth certificate in Cuzco...sigh.  We've hit some major snafoos and are planning to tackle the issue first thing tomorrow morning.  We have a contact or two that we are praying will be able to overcome the deadlock we are in on legal issues.  We'd really love to manage the birth certificate and Peruvian passport tomorrow.  I hope, I hope!

We left Cuzco about midday...C was a little nervous due to suitcases, planes, etc., but she really did beautifully.  She seems to trust us completely and if we tell her this is what we're doing together and that it's ok, she comes along willingly.  I tend to forget how new everything is for her...first elevator ride, first escalator, first time to put everything she owns (first time to OWN stuff!) into a suitcase and move, first time to get on a plane...it goes on and on.  Just watching her trust us makes me feel so weak in my faith...how I pray for trust like that!

We arrived at her grandparents' house and she already owns the staircase...three floors of stairs...happiness is...  How can a child that never wanted to go anywhere, never felt safe except for in her orphanage and was unusually fearful of change be so happy???  Our God is truly the guardian of the fatherless...she trusts us.  Could anything be more sweet??!

Loaded up C's backpack with plane activities, the boys slipped it on her back and immediately had to catch her before it took her to the ground...much hilarity all around.  We settled on her baby doll and two v. small stuffed animals after some trial and error.  Can't wait to beef this little girl up some!!

 Getting ready to leave airport in Cuzco...these two sisters love each other lots!

Safely in Lima, population about 13 million...a pretty big city for our small town girl.

the day of silence

Today was the day of silence, mandated by law in case somebody wants to challenge the adoption. 
Nobody knows its happening so I don't know who would challenge it but it is officially over!!
Tomorrow is a big day, we will have to get a new birth certificate for new little daughter.
This will be challenging as nothing moves fast with public administration, but we trust God will guide us to the right person. 
The things to do in Lima are not simple either, unless God opens some doors, we won't make it to the 16th and Debbie will have to stay extra days. 

Once we get to Lima we will have internet at home and be able to post more often.

Wed. 28th

Today was a much better day,   C has been happy all day long, is eating very well and showing love to everyone.  We are very thankful for the way she is adapting to us. We still have to wait for the mandatory 7 days to get our adoption decree, that is Dec 5th. We are hoping to be in Lima on Dec 6th and run with the US immigration paperwork
Here are some pics. Thanks for your prayers, still a ways to go...

 The famous rock with 12 angles

Goodbye party at the orphanage

Day? Monday...

Whew, it's been exhausting around here...but good : )  We spent all weekend with our little girl, returning her to the orphanage in the evenings to feed her dinner.  Dinner has been my most stressful time, trying to force-feed a 3 year old who has trouble eating because of her teeth is not my favorite thing to end a long day with... and that while sitting at a little table with about 20 other 3 and 4 year olds, all yelling for attention or alternately spilling their soup and crying.  My hat is off to the women who work there every day...wow.  C eats beautifully for us, we are able to cut up her food really tiny so that chewing isn't an issue and basically feed her all day long when she lets us.  She is super small...the orphanage put an 18 month outfit on her today that fits pretty perfectly.  She'll be 4 in just a couple of weeks!
Yesterday's party lasted about 4 hours.  C stayed at the orphanage last night after since she was beyond exhausted and hadn't had anything but chocolate and candy to eat--not sure about the wisdom of the party for our process with C but the people at the orphanage were very happy.

As of today, C stays with us, tonight will be her first time to stay over.  The Lord is giving her such peace.  He has given her such a sweet spirit...we have had a couple of fits (very short-lived) and yesterday afterward her Papi talked with her and told her to come to me and ask forgiveness.  She came over and hugged and kissed me.  I was fighting tears.  God is so good!  Thank you for your prayers.

Friday Nov 23rd

For the blog fans...this is going to be a much simpler less exciting post, meaning, Debbie is not the one blogging. The process with little C is going great, she is really attached to her new "mama" and slowly but surely to the rest of us... It is so cool to hear her call me "papi" and to know her brothers names now!! Big sister was a first from day one..We had her all day today, brought her to the apartment, gave her her new doll whom she named "Lala" and wanted to carry her just like the ladies carry their babies here in the Andes, wrapped around her back!. Took her nap home and then we went to the park where she proved to be quite the gymnist, she is tireless, climbs, balances on her legs, we were very impressed. We will have her goodbye party this Sunday. We are very thankful of her response to us, we hear from the orphanage staff that this is very surprising to them and it is much better than they could possibly dream of. It can only be God´s grace...We have tons of pictures, will try to upload them later.
Sorry about not being able to keep up. Debbie is really tired at the end of the day...
P.S. in case you are curious, our Thanksgiving dinner was peruvian corn, cheese and a peruvian chile sauce, everyone´s favorites.  No bird this year...

Gotcha!

This will be quick, we don't have internet at our appt so we've borrowed wifi from the office of a friend.

We arrived to the orphanage yesterday afternoon to some very nervous orphanage workers who wanted to explain to us that C would probably not receive us well because she has spent her whole life with them and is exceptionally attached to the workers and the home.  They were afraid she was going to reject us and had many plans for the trial meet.   "Papa" to go first since she responded best to his photo (I know, we're shocked : ).  He went to her a little ways off, started talking and she eventually came over and started watching and listening.  I came out a little later and sat down, she seemed interested in the gringa and came over and eventually accepted some chips from my hand.  The kids followed later and of course she took to them the easiest,  especially big sister.  (Another huge shock to all of you : )

Thank you for prayers!

She was crazy hyper all day until we left at about 7.  We were exhausted, had altitude sickness, all of us pounding headaches and Z had almost passed out shortly before we got there.  Not the best conditions but our God is big and this is His plan for all 6 of us.  We just have to stand back and watch Him make us into a family (well, with a lot of energy expended that we weren't sure we had!)  We dropped lifeless into bed last night.



 Our little one is expecting her Papas back when we gets up from her nap, which is about now...gotta run!
Abrazos

Day 2

We fly out tomorrow first thing in the morning to Cuzco, a city in the Andes at 11,000 ft.  Our little one should be getting up from her nap at about 3 and we're planning to be there soon after to meet her....Soooo excited!  I hope to have some good pictures to share tomorrow night if possible.  Thank you all for your prayers!!

Ready, Get set, Go!

It's midnight and I'm listening to the sounds of traffic, people walking home and a guard's whistle down the street...sounds I love because they mean we're finally in Lima!  
Yes, there has been a bit of a gap in my blogging.  What can I say?  I'll sum up the last month and a half since my last blog by saying that we did nothing but inch toward immigration acceptance and approval from Peru to travel for about 45 days.
On the 46th, we took off full speed down hill.  In one day we bought tickets for 5 to Peru, rented an apartment for 2 weeks in Cuzco and then purchased 5 more tickets to arrive in the city where our little girl is.  It was a record for us on money spent in one day to say the least!
That was one week ago.  The rest of the week is a bit of a blur, quite frankly so I'll fast forward to now.  We're staying with Tomi's folks her in Lima, enjoying time with family.  We hadn't seen Tomi's sister and her family for 4 1/2 years...everyone's grown up suddenly.  Lots of laughter, fun and good food were had in true Peruvian style.

In Miami, finally heading South!

                                                        Girl cousins...

                                                        Guy cousins....

                                                        This is freaky...who's who???

                                           The Ardiles cousins sans Grecia a little Luis Fernando

Tomi entertaining the crowds as usual...

Tomorrow we make phonecalls and try to get everything in place to travel on Tuesday.  Tuesday, God willing, we'll meet our little girl!

A New Daughter (Una Hija Nueva)

We are thrilled to announce the arrival of our little Peruvian daughter to our family...we finally got news today that our God has seen fit to give us a little 3 1/2 year old girl from the mountains of our beloved Peru.  We're beside ourselves with joy and excitement!!  We've spent the day in thankful prayer, phone calls with Peru to start paperwork rolling and happy calls/messaging with so many of you who have been walking through this adoption process with us for the past year and a half.  In just a matter of days, our little girl will be shown pictures of her Dad, Mom and her brothers and sister.  They'll tell her we're coming to get her to bring her home.  She won't really understand what it means...how could any of us understand what it means to be suddenly part of a family, loved unconditionally by someone we don't know?  Quite a picture of what our adoption in Christ is like...Soli Deo Gloria!

"I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you."  John 14:18

**********************************

Estamos muy emocionados de anunciar la llegada de nuestra hijita peruana a nuestra familia...por fin recibimos la noticia hoy día que nuestro Dios nos ha bendecido con una pequeña de 3 años y medio de la sierra de nuestro querido Peru.  !No nos cabe la alegría y emoción!!  Hemos pasado el día con oraciones agradecidas al Señor, llamadas al Peru para comenzar el papeleo y llamadas y mensajes alegres con tantos de ustedes que nos han acompañado a lo largo del ultimo año y medio en este proceso de adopción.  En cuestión de dias, nuestra chiquita vera fotos de su Papa, su Mama y sus dos hermanos y su hermana.  Le contaran que estamos yendo por ella para recogerla y traerla a casa.  Realmente no entenderá que significa todo eso...como podría cualquiera de nosotros entender lo que significa de repente ser parte de una familia, ser amado incondicionalmente por alguien que no conocemos?  Que tal imagen de lo que es nuestra adopción en Cristo...solo a Dios sea
 la gloria!

"No los dejare huérfanos, volveré a ustedes."  Juan 14:18

Tomorrow!! (¡Mañana!!)

   Tomorrow, several men and women will sit in an office in Peru and look at our family's file...they'll look at our family culture, our income, the specs on our home, our employment and our statement of who we are...and try to decide if we are a good match for the little 3 year-old Peruvian girl we have requested to adopt into our family.

   We've looked at this little girl's file and the 3 recent black and white photos of her and have tried to figure out by psych reports and medical reports and height and weight charts who she really is...silly really to think you could get to know a human being that way.  

   We just know that we would be so privileged and delighted if God would let us be her family...we've imagined her in every corner of our lives for a long time now.

  Thank you friends who have prayed and will be praying tomorrow.  We have been told we won't know the results until Wednesday...we have a complete peace tonight that God will chose what is best for this little one.  

   We don't know what tomorrow holds but we do know Who holds tomorrow.

                                            *************************************

   Mañana, en una oficina en el Peru, varios hombres y mujeres revisaran el archivo de nuestra familia...miraran la cultura de nuestra familia, nuestro ingreso, los detalles de nuestra casa, nuestro empleo y nuestra carta de presentación...e intentaran decidir si seriamos o no una buena familia para la chiquita peruana de 3 años que hemos solicitado adoptar a nuestra familia. 

   Hemos revisado el expediente de esta chiquita y las 3 fotos recientes en blanco y negro y hemos intentado averiguar a traves de reportes psicológicos y medicos y sus tablas de crecimiento quien es ella de verdad...gracioso realmente pensar que podrías conocer de esa forma a otro ser humano.

   Solo sabemos que nos sentiríamos tan privilegiados y contentos que Dios nos permitiera ser su familia...la hemos imaginado en cada rincón de nuestras vidas ya un buen tiempo.

   Gracias a nuestros amigos que han orado y estarán orando mañana.  Nos han dicho que no sabremos nada de los resultados hasta el miércoles...tenemos una paz muy grande esta noche que Dios escogerá lo mejor para esta chiquita.

   No sabemos que traerá el dia de mañana pero si sabemos Quien lo tiene entre manos.

10 days to the big meeting...again (tambien en español)

Once again, we are 10 days away from the big meeting...and we still have not been approved to adopt in Peru.  Monday morning early the phone will be ringing at someone's desk in Lima...  and we'll be patiently, respectfully and persistently asking for an answer.

 This week we'll be drafting a formal request to make a little girl our daughter...she's 3 1/2 and has spent her entire life in an orphanage.  We would feel so privileged for the Lord to entrust her to us under His keeping.  Would you pray with us?

"Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my sighing.  Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray.  In the Morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."  Psalm 5: 1-3



Traduccion:
Una vez mas, estamos a 10 dias del Consejo...y aun no nos han aprobado para adoptar del Peru.  El lunes temprano timbrara el teléfono en la oficina de alguien en Lima...  y con paciencia, respeto y persistencia, seguiremos pidiendo una respuesta.

Esta semana escribiremos una carta oficial pidiendo que una niñita pueda ser nuestra hija...tiene tres años y medio y ha pasado toda su vida en un orfanato.  Seria para nosotros un gran privilegio que el Señor nos la entregara a nosotros bajo Su protección.  Orarias con nosotros?

"Atiende, SEñOR, a mis palabras; toma en cuenta mis gemidos.  Escucha mis suplicas, rey mio y Dios mío, porque a ti elevo mi plegaria.  Por la mañana, SEñOR, escuchas mi clamor; por la mañana te presento mis ruegos, y quedo a la espera de tu respuesta."  Salmo 5: 1-3

Traduccion del ultimo "post" de julio

Y bien, hice mi ultima llamada al Peru poco antes del esperado Consejo y me informaron que definitivamente no nos aprobarian a tiempo...es mas, solo habian mirado uno de los tres reportes que les acabamos de enviar.

Luego a esperar y orar con respecto a lo que pasaria en esa reunion con la chiquita que nos ha robado los corazones.  Sabiamos que podia ser colocada en otro hogar con otra familia y que si asi fuera, seria la respuesta de Dios acerca de esta chiquita y que asi El estaria proveyendo por ella lo mejor...pasaron las horas lentamente...tuvo lugar la reunión (los resultados no se reportan hasta unos 2 dias después)...y por fin me arme de valor y llame a la SNA a ver si alguien me contaba que habia pasado...y para nuestra gran alegría, sigue allí la chiquita!  Esta bien, yo se que eso no necesariamente es la respuesta de Dios diciendonos si nos ha escogido para ella o no...pero puede que sea...

Entonces perseveramos.  Obviamente, el Señor sigue obrando en nosotros para prepararnos y tiene trabajo para nosotros mientras tanto...ah si! y (me hago recordar) quiere que lo hagamos contentos y con gozo!  Esta bien, el siguiente Consejo es el 28 de agosto.  Y ahí vamos...

"He tendido mi ancla en el puerto de paz, sabiendo que tanto el presente como el futuro yacen en manos enclavadas.  Me has dado silencio en mi corazon en lugar de murmullos y reclamos.  Señor, no dejes que mis deseos se conviertan algo imprescindible para mi, y luego en quejas contra Tu provision y ten misericordia de mi." de El Valle de Vision, una coleccion de oraciones y meditaciones para uso devocional.  (pronto a ser traducido y publicado en español por Poiema Publicaciones.)

Pins and Needles

Ok, so I made my final call to Peru shortly before the big meeting and was told definitively that we would not make it to be approved in time...in fact only a 1/3 of our addendum has been looked at so far.  Sigh.  


Then came the waiting and the praying about what would happen with the little one we've sort of fallen for at that very meeting.  We realized she could be assigned to another family and knew that if she were, it would be God's answer to us about her and knew also it would be His caring for her in the best way possible as well...the hours ticked by...the meeting came and went (results aren't posted on their website until 2 days after the meeting)... and I finally got up the courage yesterday to call and see if someone might tell me what happened...and oh joy, she's still there!  Now, I realize that isn't necessarily an answer from God about whether He's picked us for her or not...but it might be...


So we persevere.  The Lord obviously has further work to do in us to prepare us and further work for us to do in the meantime...oh yeah and (reminder to self) we're supposed to do it joyfully and contentedly!  Ok, the next meeting is on August 28th.  Here we go...


"I have cast my anchor in the port of peace, knowing that present and future are in nail-pierced hands.  You have given me silence in my heart in place of murmurings and complaints.  Lord, keep my wishes from growing into willings, my willings from becoming fault-finding with your providences, and have mercy on me."  from The Valley of Vision, a collection of Puritan prayers and devotions (an amazing book...a huge help to my prayer life in both conviction and encouragement!)

Y faltan 10 dias para el Consejo de julio

Adoptar del Peru ha sido nuestro plan desde el comienzo...es decir, el comienzo hace ya 15 años..desde el primer año que nos casamos.  Viviendo en Lima, como en muchas partes del mundo hoy en día, uno siempre ve a muchos niños en abandono...nos comprometimos desde el comienzo a rescatar por lo menos a uno de ellos y darle un hogar.  Y aquí estamos, ya muchos años después, a solo 10 días del Consejo donde la Secretaria Nacional de Adopciones asigna a niños abandonados a familias adoptantes.

Es posible que ese día no signifique absolutamente nada para nosotros...o podría ser el día que el Señor nos revelara el nombre del niño que El ha escogido para nosotros.  El asunto es que la Secretaria aun no nos ha aprobado como familia adoptante.  Tuvieron nuestros papeles 3 meses, luego hicieron mas preguntas las cuales respondimos y ahora estamos nuevamente esperando.  SI nos respondieran esta semana y SI nos dijeran que si nos aprueban, ENTONCES inmediatamente pediríamos una niñita cuyo expediente hemos visto y  a quien sentimos que el Señor nos esta llamando a querer.  En el Consejo del 24 de julio considerarían nuestro pedido y (según los guíe el Señor) lo concederían o lo negarían.

Asi que, mientras tanto, le pedimos al Señor que haga Su obra dentro de nosotros 5, preparandonos para lo que nos esta llamando a hacer...y enviamos uno que otro email que esperamos llegue en el momento preciso y con el tono adecuado para que se acuerden de nuestra presencia y que estamos esperando y a la vez que no parezcamos demasiado pesados (no es muy fácil lograr el uno sin hacer el otro).  Y oramos que hoy estemos contentos y seamos fieles en lo que El nos ha llamado a cumplir este dia...y a la vez recordamos una carita seria en blanco y negro y nos preguntamos si tendremos el privilegio de llamarla nuestra.

Aun así, mas que nuestra, añoramos que sea Suya...por eso escogemos este nombre para nuestro blog:  Fourth for His Glory...el Cuarto para Su Gloria!!

And now 10 days 'til the July consejo

To adopt from Peru has been our plan from the beginning...I mean 15 years ago, beginning...since the first year of our marriage.  Living in Lima, as in many parts of the world today, you see abandoned children everywhere...we committed from the start that, if the Lord was willing, we would take at least one of those little ones home.  So here we are, all these years later, 10 days away from the official assignment meeting of the Peruvian Adoptions Committee.  

It's possible it will mean absolutely nothing to us...or it could be the day the Lord reveals to us the name of the child He has picked for us.  You see, we haven't even been officially accepted by the Peruvian government yet.  They had our paperwork for 3 months and then came back with more questions.  We've answered those questions and now they're evaluating us again.  IF they get back to us this next week and IF they say yes we're in, THEN we will immediately request a little girl whose file we have seen and who we believe the Lord has placed on our hearts.  In the official assignment meeting on July 24th they would consider our request and (as God guides them) either accept or deny it.

So in the meantime we pray the Lord will do His work in all 5 of us preparing us for what He is calling us to...and we send an e-mail or two hopefully at the right time, in the right tone, so they remember we're alive and waiting but don't think we're pushy and obnoxious (it's a fine line).  And we pray that today we'll be content and faithful in the tasks He's called us to now...and at the same time picture a little unsmiling face in black and white and wonder if we'll have the privilege of calling her ours.  

Even so, more than ours, we long for her to be His...hence our blog name: 

Fourth for His glory!!