Daddy and Joshua

I didn't think it fair to end this adoption adventure without you hearing from Daddy and Joshua.

Yes folks, Daddy and Joshua have survived!!!

We are so proud of what Linda has done for / with Rosalia. If only you could have met her in January when Linda and I first met her (Love at first sight). And to see her now, it is incredible how she has developed. In retrospect, it's comforting to know that we made the right decision (Linda taking a leave of absence from work, moving to Guatemala to care for Rosalia)......Thank you Linda, I Love You!!!

Even though things have been busy as a single Dad, I have had time to reflect on what our 2nd adoption has tought me:

"Daddy's Learnings"

• A new found appreciation for single parents.......REALLY
• There is now Purpose in everything I do!! (every daily task has meaning)
• A brand new meaning of why I go to work each day
• An appreciation for the special "Daddy Time" given to Joshua and I
• The power of Prayer
• The value of family and friends (Thanks Wurtz's for all of your help)
• A new sense of self worth
• A greater sense of Purpose (it only took 40+ years to better understand why I am here)
• The power of Technology (Joshua and Dad soo look forward to our daily web cam call from Mommy and Rosalia)

Attached are a few pictures of Joshua and Daddy's "Special Time" this year..........

Joshua and Romeo bonding

Joshua and Daddy's Saturday routine included a trip to the park to ride pony's

Look how much help I am in the garden

Just hanging out in the back yard

Fun at the Beach (look - Mom, Dad, Joshua & Rosalia)

More fun at the Beach

The Zoo became a favorite

4th of July with "Grandma and Papa"

My first Campout with Cousins (in backyard)

More fun with my Cousins

Fun at the Ballpark with my friend Christopher

No day is complete for a 3yr old w/o a good bath

Happy Birthday Joshua!!

Yes you are right that is Linda on the computer in the background.....isn't technology great. Linda was able to join the party via the computer.

Thanks for organizing my Birthday Party cousin Mel

Fun at Day Care (School) isn't it great to be 3!!

More fun at School

Field Trip to the County Fair...Thanks, Janie (Joshua's Teacher)

I THINK I NEED A LITTLE SISTER!!!

Passport tomorrow!

OK, I knew as soon as I posted (earlier today) something would happen... and it did! Got the call today that we have our amended birth certificate-yeah! Tomorrow we go into the city for a passport photo/passport for Rosalia. After that we get approval from the US embassy to do a 2nd DNA (called orange). I am not sure if we will get it done Friday or have to wait till next Tuesday after the holiday. Hopefully, I'll know more tomorrow.
Hope everyone is doing well getting back into the school swing. Can't believe that school has already started! I will update again soon. (Tony and Joshua start your packing!!!)
God bless.
Linda and Rosalia

Still waiting

Howdy to all. We are still waiting for the new birth certificate. We are thinking maybe this week. Rosalia has caught her first cold since I have had her. I had to dig out the thermometer -haven't had to use it but maybe once! (thank goodness) She is doing better but just a little more fussy and tired than usual. Wakes herself with a cough off and on.

She is also taking her first steps by herself... look no hands! She is still cautious, but will be walking by herself before we get home. (sorry Daddy and Joshua- but they can teach you how to run!)
Will let you know as soon as we get the new birth certificate and then on to the next step... a passport!!!
Love, Linda and Rosalia

Waiting for our new birth certificate

We are waiting for our new birth certificate. Ours is coming from Guatemala City (where Rosalia was born.) It used to take only a week, but for many months Guatemala has been going through a process called RENAP where all the civil registries for each town will be integrated into one system. Since this is a somewhat new thing it is taking longer than it used to --(SURPRISE!)
Some people have received theirs in about 2 weeks, others much longer... so we will wait and see. Tony and I had to provide a copy of our passports this week to this office... hopefully they won't want anything else new.
I have had a nanny named Gabi watch Rosalia 2 mornings a week for 4 hours. Gives me a little time away and Rosalia can see a new face too. I have started Spanish classes for 2 hours on those mornings. I started this the week before we knew we were out of PGN. Of course, I wish I would have started earlier now... but any time helps!!
Rosalia is pretty good at keeping mommy laughing lately. She is really into sorting things and placing them in and out of shoe boxes, trash cans, oatmeal boxes... whatever she can find. I hope her skills last when we get home and she can pick up all her and her brothers toys!
Tony is getting Joshua ready for sharing his home with a new sister. He is already picking out toys, etc. that "sissie" can play with.
I will definitely post when we hear some news about the new birth certificate. I am also trying to put together some pictures of the "not so pretty" side of Antigua .... stay tuned!
Love to all, Linda and Rosalia

An assortment of pictures!

The main fountain in central park. Water flows from everywhere (if you get my drift!)
The rest of this is from Santiago day. It is the celebration for St. James, the patron saint of Antigua. A fun day!

Start of the parade.

Got to have the marching band!

And people dressed up in all kinds of costumes.

Government building all decked out.

And the bands played and marched.

I don't totally understand.... but they were very colorful.

More bull and animal costumes!

I think this was the big princess and little princess.

These guys were fun to watch!!

And they could dance!

Statue of St. James being carried.

The little guy!

Play it all yourself!!!

Band playing in front of the cathedral that evening.

Fireworks that night (and almost every night in Antigua!)

Volcano Agua seen along my street at dusk.

Volcanoes Fuego and Acatenango further away.

Statue of Saint Pedro seen at the entrance into Antigua with volcano Auga behind.

The best picture of ALL (of course!!!!)

WE ARE OUT OF PGN!!!

I have wondered how it would feel to write those words! (I am in a coffee house after trying 3 places to find internet working..... it went down yesterday at the apartment. My heart is still pounding..... or is it the caffeine??) I got a call yesterday afternoon from our lawyer. She stated that she had our file..... I of course thought that meant we were out on a "previo"... (something to fix.)
She repeated we were out... "you mean OUT... as in O --U--T" ... yes that is what she said.
We believe that all of you praying last week must have done an outstanding job.... out in a little over a week -- WOW!! God is good! Sooo..., what does this mean???
Rosalia is undeniably, LEGALLY, without a doubt, forever and ever..... a WOLF!!! She is ours and we are coming HOME!! YYIIPPPPEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Joshua's birthday is Monday and I hope he enjoys his birthday present! I will post more when I get the internet back up and also post more pictures.
The next step is Rosalia gets a new birth certificate, with her new last name and Tony and I are also added. We have to get a passport, have a final physical from the U.S. doctor, a 2nd DNA is done (so the U.S. knows it is the same child that we started out with? (don't ask) and we get an embassy appointment (called "pink") where we get her U.S. visa. All in all, it could be 6-8 weeks. I can finally start writing weeks instead of "months" and "who knows?"!!
(I know it is the small things!)
Well, sweetpea just woke up.... post more later.
THANKS to everyone again for all your prayers and support.
Love, Linda and Rosalia