Hectic Homecoming

After returning from the visit trip in January of 2006 I just wanted our baby girl home! February brought the happy news that our case had been approved. We were now in the final stage. Lucia Alejandra Vasquez Juarez was now Ana Lucia Alejandra Davis - wahoo!

Throughout the end of February and the beginning of March our attorney was responsible for the final adoption decree, getting the new birth certificate (showing us as the parents and her new last name of Davis), getting her Guatemalan passport, a final medical exam, and submitting an enormous stack of paperwork to the US Embassy in Guatemala City to apply for her visa. Dealing with the US Embassy is generally not an easy task. Let's just say the Americans working at the embassy do not particularly care for Guatemalans in general. It is quite embarrassing to learn how our citizens at the embassy treat the people in Guatemala.

Without reliving all of the intricate details, and US Embassy mistakes, let's just say the last week before Ana Lucia came home was a bit uhm, s-t-r-e-s-s-f-u-l. The embassy issues a document called a pink slip which contains the day/time for the child's visa appointment. After failing to issue our pink slip for several days due to a slew of mistakes by the embassy our attorney was frustrated and at the end of his rope. He was completing each task the embassy requested and still getting nowhere. On this end, I was submitting requested information as well. I was even part of a 3-way call via a local government office with the embassy. They were quite nasty both to myself and the liason who called on our behalf. The last few days of waiting were not pleasant. Even though one understands the child is legally their daughter, and will be home eventually, there is still an empty place in the heart of a mother when any of her chicks are not home.

My bags were packed and the final paperwork ready. We just needed that darned pink slip issued by the US Embassy. Imagine my surprise, and panic, when I checked our email and there was a message from the US Embassy. Yes, our pink slip had been issued and the appointment was the FOLLOWING MORNING. It was 12:15 pm in Cincinnati and I had to get to Guatemala that day for an appointment the next morning. Oh, the embassy staff was testing me big time. They had NO idea who they were dealing with.

I read the email through very carefully a few more times. Yeap, it was true. Our appointment was the next morning. I called Mark at work and asked him to come home...NOW. Adrenaline kicked in as I called Delta and booked the last flight out - which left at 3pm. They said if I could get to the airport by 2 they would put me on the plane. Game on...

Mark zoomed home, I threw some last-minute stuff in my luggage, confirmed I had all of the required paperwork and 45 minutes later we were out the door headed to the airport. As we drove to the airport, I called a friend who arranged a hotel room and driver for my arrival in Guatemala City at 11pm. At the same time, our agency was busy making arrangements for Ana Lucia to arrive at my hotel at 6:30 the next morning and Pedro to accompany us to the embassy.

The drive to the airport was a bit high on the emotion side. Can you imagine? This was the closest I have ever come to completely losing it. As Mark was getting me to the airport (in a rapid manner) I was checking over paperwork, securing last minute details, crying, breathing rapidly then taking deep breaths, cursing the US Embassy personnel, praying, and who knows what else. Marco and Gustavo were sitting in their carseats watching the whole situation unfold. I'm certain they were very frightened. ;)

As Mark pulled up to the curbside drop-off we hugged and kissed and I ran inside to the desk. Mark checked my bags and offered a very generous tip and pleaded for the bags to make it on the flight. I made it to the airplane and was the last person to board. I'm sure I looked a complete mess. We then sat on the tarmac for 1 HOUR while a maintenance crew checked something or other and made the determination whether this plane could take off. I silently pleaded with God. It is true - I admit it. It went something like this "Oh, God, PLEASE. I have gotten this far since that blasted email at noon. Please don't let me miss my connecting flight in Houston. I need to get there tonight!" As if he didn't already know. The plane did take off. Upon landing in Houston I ran to my connecting flight. Ok, if you know me you know I am not a runner. Heck, I can barely walk and talk at the same time. As I arrived at my gate they had just made the last call for boarding. Once again, I was the last person to board the plane.

I arrived in Guatemala City at 11pm. A driver was waiting for me - thanks Sonya! I checked into the hotel, unpacked a few things, reviewed the paperwork for the appointment, and collapsed in the bed. I slept for a few hours and my precious baby girl arrived at 6:30 the next morning. We were off to the embassy.

There is a lot of sitting and waiting during the visa appointment. So I sat and cuddled my daughter and began the process of getting to know her. It had been two months since our last visit. She had grown so much. Things were so rushed before the appointment that I only got to spend about 30 minutes with her foster mother. However, she did write a multiple-page letter with instructions and details. Thankfully the foster mother remembered to tell me to take Ana Lucia outside for 10 minutes everyday at 10am! What a hoot.

The embassy appointment went smoothly. Trust me, it took every ounce of self-control I possessed not to greet the embassy personnel with the phrase "I'll bet you didn't expect to see me here this morning did you?" Hmmm, that may not have gone over very well. I have always had a problem with my smart mouth - just ask my parents and siblings.

The following day my friend Marisol brought Ana Lucia's foster mother and birth mother to the hotel for one last visit. We had the blessing of spending the morning together. Here I was, once again, in the presence of the woman who had given this precious baby life and the woman who had cared for her until I could. Never in my life did I imagine I would watch one of my children's mother say good-bye. Needless to say this trip was turning out to be the most emotion-filled few days of my life.

Ana Lucia's visa was issued on Thursday and we flew home on Friday. Voila! No big deal...yeah right. Upon arrival in Cincinnati, I walked toward baggage claim holding one sweet baby Davis girl. We were both exhausted from a long day of traveling. We had completed our first mother-daughter adventure! Waiting at the end of the walk was one relieved husband and 4 siblings anxious to meet their new sister. The sight was beautiful and one of my favorite memories. There were tears, laughter, hugs, kisses, and a plea from the mama of "let's go home".

On the drive home from the airport Marco had a question. "Where is Ana Lucia going to sit at the dinner table?" Gustavo quickly answered, "I'll give her my high chair!"

And in that instant Ana Lucia was officially part of the Davis crew.

Ana Lucia and her foster mother Francisca


Ana Lucia - our first morning together


Taking the time this past week to write about the journey to adopt Ana Lucia has been emotional at times - just like her adoption process. I have cried, laughed, felt sorrow and frustration, and been reminded just how awesome the miracle of adoption truly is.

My world would not be complete without each of my five incredible children.

The dreaded call

During an adoption process one cherishes any communication received from the agency. Medical updates and pictures arrive each month with periodic email updates in between. Important news warranted a telephone call. When the cell phone rang, and the agency number was on caller id, it was either happy news or concerning news.

In early January 2006 I walked out of a meeting and noticed I had a voice mail message. It was from the agency director. "Aimee, call me back when you get this". Saturday afternoon, hmmmm, her voice didn't sound celebratory and we weren't due for any case updates. I had a sinking feeling in my gut. I returned the call. "Aimee, there is a medical concern with Lucia that I want to talk to you about". Adrenaline kicked in as I desperately tried to listen carefully and write down all the details. There wasn't much to go on. The foster mother noticed that the baby had uneven gluteal folds. What? Apparently our fabulous, on the ball, foster mother had experience with this condition before. She brought it to the pediatrician's attention and now the agency was calling me. Fortunately I was scheduled to leave in a week to visit Ana Lucia in Guatemala. She was going to come and stay with me at my hotel in Guatemala City for four glorious days. I now had a few days to do some research, make some calls to physicians here in the US, and make an action plan for how this baby could best be diagnosed and the situation addressed. I kicked in to high gear. For any of you who know me - are you surprised? ;)

I took the worst possible action on that Saturday evening. I turned to the internet and began researching "uneven gluteal fold". Basically I learned this can be a sign of hip dysplasia. Ok, I was getting somewhere. However, everything I read stated that if a baby had hip dysplasia it should be addressed as early as possible. The possible treatment ranged from possibly wearing a brace to hip surgery. The surgery was most successful if completed before six months of age. The truth is, if my baby needed hip surgery, I did NOT want it completed in Guatemala. I called our pediatrician, he called a pediatric orthopaedist friend of his, and they concluded it would be beneficial for me to get either X-rays or ultrasound of her hips. At this point I didn't know if this involved both of her hips, if she was in pain, or really any details. Thank goodness I was headed to be with my sweet baby in just a few days.

As I arrived in Guatemala for the visit trip I headed to my hotel from the airport. Shortly after my arrival Pedro arrived with Ana Lucia and her foster mother. We went over some instructions regarding her care from the foster mother and headed directly to the pediatrician. I was armed with a list of questions from my pediatrician and the motivation to be this little girl's advocate without being the demanding American. I was walking a tightrope. The developing-nation physician recommended putting two diapers at a time on her and exercises. As a side, this is the exact way the situation was handled in the United States years and years and years ago. I thanked him for his attention to the baby and his obvious attention to detail. I then took the easy way out and communicated that the pediatrician I consulted back in the states asked if it was possible to get X-rays or ultrasound of her hips. I didn't demand it - I just used the American doctor as my excuse. Wanting to prove to the American doctor that he was willing and able to meet American standards the pediatrician quickly agreed to send Ana Lucia to the "best" orthopaedic physician in Guatemala City. Yeah!

I spent the next few days cuddling Ana Lucia and getting to know her. It was heaven on earth. It was also comforting for me to observe that she was not in any pain. As a funny side note, when Ana Lucia's foster mother brought her to me at the hotel, she undressed her to show me some details I should be aware of. First of all, Ana Lucia had an umbilical hernia. It looked horrible. The foster mother wrapped a band around her body to hold the hernia in and I needed to do the same. Now, around the band (which was actually a simple hair scarf folded) was a red bag attached. The foster mother informed me it was to protect the baby and give her good luck! After she left Pedro let me know that the foster mother was very superstitious and possessed some old Mayan beliefs. Truth is, the red bag was probably to protect the baby against the crazy American woman coming to take care of her for 4 days! The bag contained some herbs...I think. ;)

At the end of the visit I returned home and Ana Lucia returned to her foster family. She was taken to the orthopaedist. It was determined only one of her hips was affected and she was placed in a brace which she had to wear 23 hours/day. It wasn't until she was home in the United States that it was determined the Guatemalan doctors had made a wise choice in treating her and she would NOT require surgery. She had to have her hips checked every 3 months for her first two years home and now has been given a clean bill of health. Thank you God! She may always have a bit of a wobbly gait, but otherwise we expect no problems.

It was very difficult to be separated during a period of medical uncertainty. Once again we were reminded that God is in control. No matter the outcome she was still destined to be our daughter. If we had brought her home and she had to go right in to surgery we would have done so. Uneven gluteal folds - I can just about guarantee you I would not have detected this. Our foster mother rocks - red mysterious bag beliefs and all!

Sweet baby girl


Pink hernia band and red mysterious bag!


Sleeping angel

Journey #3 Begins

Meeting Ana Lucia in Guatemala when she was 6 days old was an incredible blessing. After seeing her, and having Pedro ask if we were interested in adopting her, my thoughts were going a million different directions for the remainder of my time in Guatemala.

The following day I went for a nice long walk to sort out my thoughts. You see, I was quite comfortable with the fact that this adoption was going to be a no-brainer. At the time I was working for the adoption agency. The fact that I had met the attorneys and many of the foster mothers working with the agency brought a sense of control. There was comfort in knowing the attorney handling our case and knowing the foster mother as well.

Fears associated with the unknown were about to test me once again. The director of our agency informed me that Ana Lucia’s adoption was being handled by an attorney that the agency had not worked with before. The agency staff in Guatemala had been trying to bring the agency and this particular attorney together for months. If we decided to proceed with Ana Lucia’s adoption our case would be the test case for this attorney. We would be the guinea pigs. Hold on, what happened to my confidence in knowing the attorney? What about the possibility of me knowing the foster mother? As I walked down the sidewalk in Guatemala City I was having a good long conversation with God. I was questioning the circumstances. I was so sure this adoption was going to proceed with fewer unknowns since I was now working for an adoption agency. If we moved forward with this adoption we would be giving up the peace of known facts. There was no previous experience with this attorney. I did not know the foster mother she was living with. So many details were out of my control. All of the sudden I felt a strong conviction. The question “how dare you?” was impressed upon my mind. God was speaking to me. How dare I be upset that I had no control over which attorney this baby was placed with, or which foster family was caring for her, or whether or not our agency had experience with this attorney. What choices did this precious baby have? She didn’t choose to be born into poverty. She had no control over which attorney was handling her case or which foster mother was caring for her. How dare I question the whole adoption simply because I wasn’t in control of the circumstances. God was reminding me from the beginning that He is in control. Wasn't I supposed to learn that in the previous two adoptions? Yeah, short memory Aimee. From that moment on I was at total peace about moving forward with the adoption of the sweet little baby I had met the previous day. Now I just had to wait on the paperwork and her medical reports…oh, and tell Mark about her…

“So honey, I met this sweet little baby girl on my trip”…

Honestly, I don’t remember the exact conversation but I do remember I did not bring it up with Mark on the first evening home from Guatemala. I do remember that all of the paperwork was submitted with no problems and all of the initial medical reports were great. We decided to accept the referral and move forward with the adoption. I secretly hoped that this attorney would use this case as his proving ground and dazzle us with abilities.

It was so much fun introducing the kids to Ana Lucia via her photo. When Katie looked at the photo she immediately replied “I know this baby! I held her.” Too cool.

In our first two adoptions we chose to keep the children’s given birth names – Marco Vinicio and Gustavo Adolfo. The new baby’s name was Lucia Alejandra. Hmmmm. We figured if we kept her name she would quickly become Lucy. We already have an Alex in the family so decided not to go with Alejandra as her first name. So the decision was made to keep her name and add her mother’s first name. This is how she became Ana Lucia Alejandra Davis.



Christmas Day 2005 – In Guatemala

Baby no more

In less than a week our baby girl, Ana Lucia Alejandra, will turn 3 years old. Unbelievable.

All five of our children have a beautiful story of the first time I met them. I met two of my children in a hospital operating room as the doctor lifted them from my body during a c-section delivery. One son I met in the lobby of a hotel in Guatemala City. Another son I met sitting poolside at a hotel in Antigua, Guatemala. I met our baby girl in Villa Nueva, Guatemala at her foster mother's home. She was just six days old.

In November 2005, Katie (our oldest daughter) traveled with me to Guatemala. Katie turned 11 the previous June, and one of her birthday presents was a trip to Guatemala with Mom. At that time I traveled to Guatemala several times/year to do some work for an adoption agency. I would visit the children in process of being adopted and take photos and video for the waiting families. It is one of the coolest jobs I have ever had. Over several days I would see anywhere from 40 - 70 children. This involved:

*asking specific questions through my translator, collecting medical updates, and taking notes to report back to the agency and adopting families

*delivering care packages from the adopting families

*meeting the foster mothers

*cuddling and loving on all those kids

These trips were definitely my favorite part of that job!

This particular trip was special for two reasons. First, Katie accompanied me and was my right-hand assistant. She loved holding the babies and seeing more of the real Guatemala. Secondly, our family had started the process for our 3rd adoption, and I was hand-delivering our paperwork to the agency staff. We were ready to accept a referral (be matched with a child).

During the trip I received a message from the director of the agency stating there was a newborn baby girl who had been relinquished for adoption. While all of her paperwork was not yet complete, which meant she may not qualify for an international adoption, the director wondered if I would like to see her. You see, we were the next family in line to receive a referral. So if all of the baby's paperwork and medical information was satisfactory she could possibly be matched with our family. I needed only a nanosecond to agree to see the baby. I did not tell Katie that this infant could possibly be placed with our family. I simply told her that we had to see one more baby for the agency. I also was not sure if my translator/driver and the foster mother knew that this baby could possibly be our referral. To everyone around me I was simply seeing the baby for the agency and taking photos/video.

We were taken to the foster home where the baby lived. As we drove through the city and out to Villa Nueva my mind was reeling. I just remember silently praying for composure. I remember thinking to myself "I may be walking into a home and meeting my future daughter".

Arriving at the home, I gathered my cameras and paperwork. Upon being welcomed into the home I was introduced to the foster mother and the birth mother. Sleeping in a carseat sitting on a table was the sweetest little 6-day old newborn baby - Lucia Alejandra Vasquez Juarez. At this moment, time stood still.

I began the process of gathering information which I needed to complete for the agency. I took a few pictures. I couldn't stand it any longer. "May I hold her?" I asked.

I am certain my heart skipped a beat when the baby was placed in my arms. I'll never forget the moment I first held my daughter...before she was my daughter. I was given the opportunity to feed her a bottle - called a pacha in Guatemala. I then took a few more photos and finished the paperwork. I was keenly aware that I could not stay for too long. However, as we finished the meeting and left to return to Guatemala City so many thoughts were running through my head. Everything from "I may never see this baby again" to "she may become our daugter" were haunting me. Admitting that the whole experience was surreal is an understatement.

As we drove back to the city I had a momentary panic. I could not remember the baby's name! Was it Luisa? Was it Lucia? Thank goodness I had written it down in my paperwork.

Once we arrived back at the hotel in Guatemala City, I asked our driver if I could get him a drink or a meal for his drive back home. This kind gentleman also worked for our agency. He asked for only a beverage so Katie went into the hotel to buy one. Pedro wisely waited until Katie was out of our sight then asked me "Aimee, do you think your family would be interested in adopting Lucia?"

The journey had begun. I'll share more throughout the coming birthday week. For now, here is a photo I shot of Katie and Ana Lucia on that precious day.

Too much stuff...

Uh oh. Watch out. As they whisper around our house "Mom is on a mission..."

Stuff, excess, clutter - do those words ever make their way into your vocabulary?

Perhaps it is the doom-and-gloom economy coupled with the change in season mixed with the fact that I am fed up. I am on the simplify and save soapbox. Allow me to introduce you to "Operation Shake Up". Mark and I have been discussing ideas on cutting our budget, selling and donating what we do not need, and using our excess to make money for us. The initial reason is two-fold:

1. Grow to become better stewards of what we have been entrusted with
2. Fund a family trip to Guatemala this coming summer

The little ones have not been back to Guatemala since coming home as babies. We feel it is time to take them back home to their birth country. We hope to spend a week in Guatemala this summer. All seven of us. Yikes. The preliminary budget is in place, and it is s-c-a-r-y. SEVEN airplane tickets alone is enough to make us gasp for air. A hotel stay requires two rooms, so we are researching renting a house in Antigua (my favorite place in Guatemala) for the week. While the trip will be a huge financial undertaking for us, we feel it is an investment. An investment which is well worth the effort.

So, I am researching opportunities for cutting costs. I love learning from the success of others. Here are a few ideas we have started on:

*selling all outgrown children's clothes (we have enough to start our own consignment shop)

*evaluating all monthly costs and making decisions where we can make cuts/changes

*As an example, currently we pay around $90/month for home phone, fax line, and long-distance service. Since I am no longer working we do not need the fax line and can use our cell phones for long distance. Most of the phone calls we receive at home are telemarketing anyway. For $10/month I can add another line to our cell service. So we have decided to get rid of our home phone service and use the extra cell line for a home phone. Ooooh, and I got a SWEET deal on a new phone by adding another line. Let's just say Christmas came early to me at the AT&T store today. Thanks Mark! ;) By the way, many of you will be getting an email or text from us letting you know our new home phone number.

*We changed auto and homeowner's insurance. By shopping around Mark was able to find significant savings.

*We are going to suspend our cleaning service. Can I just be frank and share that this one hurts. When we brought Ana Lucia home a friend of ours gave us the gift of her cleaning lady for a session. Talk about an awesome present! We hired her and have had our house cleaned twice/month for the past year and a half. It has been a wonderful luxury. However, if I am serious about cutting back then I have to sacrifice. Back to scrubbing toilets for us...

*I will be spending the cold, dreary, winter months decluttering all of our closets and storage areas in the basement and selling or donating most of what I uncover. The benefit will be a more simplified home and additional cash.

Ok, friends, it is time to share! Post your ideas of how you have cut your budget, gotten rid of stuff, and added to the family income.

Those ANNOYING political ads

It is the time of year for those horribly annoying political ads. I detest them. Do they really influence anyone's opinion?

They do, however, create awareness to those viewing them...even when those viewing are 2, 5, and 7 years old. My children do know the names Barack Obama, John McCain, and Sarah Palin. They do not recognize the name Joe Biden. I have tried to teach the little ones a bit about choosing a president, voting, etc.

A few weeks ago Gustavo (5) heard me say the name Barack Obama. He shouted out "Barack Obama - I know him! He is brown just like me!" After picking my jaw up off the floor (and stifling hysterical laughter) I asked Gustavo how he knew who Barack Obama was. He replied, "the tv". Aha, advertising/marketing dollars hard at work.

In the video below you will observe that Gustavo also knows Sarah Palin and John McCain. He swiped my reading glasses (yes, I am old) off the island and began singing "I'm Sarah Palin! I'm Sarah Palin! I'm Sarah Palin!" I swear, the boy keeps us in stitches around here.

I decided to video our own political ad. If you need translation Gustavo is saying:

"I'm Sarah Palin, I'm Sarah Palin, vote for me! And John McCains too!"

Not quite the amazing race...

The Davis crew will participate in National Make a Difference Day on October 25th through a project with Friends Through Guatemalan Adoption, the organization we started in January 2003.

FTGA is hosting a bike race to raise money for Orphan Resources International (ORI). The objective of the race is to encourage the children in Friends Through Guatemalan Adoption to get involved and complete the race themselves. Therefore, the race will be just one mile and all of the children can participate by walking, hopping, skipping, jogging, running, riding in a stroller or wagon, riding a tricycle, scooter, bike, or even on a parent's shoulders! Our hope is the children will begin to realize THEY can make a difference in the lives of children in Guatemala.

ORI serves 40 orphanages throughout Guatemala, reaching out to thousands of orphans. They provide basic necessities such as food, milk, formula, diapers, and clothes to the orphanages in addition to items such as washers/dryers, refrigerators, beds, mattresses, etc. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty, abandonment, and despair, by providing spiritual, vocational and personal development training. Zack, Katie, and Aimee have worked personally with ORI while in Guatemala and can attest to the incredible work of this fine organization. You can visit www.orphanresources.org to learn more.

The needs in Guatemala are immense. It is estimated that over 56% of Guatemalans are living in poverty. The majority of Guatemalan children are undernourished, have little access to education, and no opportunity to break out of the cycle of poverty.

We love the birth country of our children and want to do what we can to help. Every single dollar donated will go to ORI to impact the lives of Guatemalan orphans. If you would like to participate please make checks payable to Orphan Resources. You can send an email to palmetto-adopt @ cinci. rr. com (remove spaces) and I will let you know where to send the donation. If you know my home address you can send it there, but please drop me an email to let me know.

**ALL DONATIONS ARE TAX DEDUCTIBLE**

Thank you, in advance, for partnering with us. We have seen firsthand the difference generosity makes for children in orphanages in Guatemala.

With gratitude,
The Davis Crew

Palin rocks!

My volunteer day was more fun than should be allowed! I was a driver in the motorcade and responsible for a 15-passenger van. I began the day meeting the other drivers to pick up our vans at the Cincinnati airport. We then drove to Lunken Airport to begin the adventure. Our vehicles were "swept" by the bomb squad. We had to pass security as well. Did you know that tic tac mints will make a metal detector go off? We then received our instructions from the Secret Service. The gentleman was very friendly, yet quite serious. He gave us instructions such as:

*drive close enough to the van in front of you to not allow a car to cut in
*don't drive close enough that you will hit the van if you need to stop quickly
*police motorcycles will be driving very quickly on both sides of you at times throughout the motorcade - always be aware so you do not sideswipe one of them
*the motorcade will weave throughout the lanes all during the drive - follow the van in front of you without running over a motorcycle (no pressure)
*the speed driven will vary in the course of the drive
*never leave your vehicle, leave the keys in the ignition, leave the window down, and if the motorcade needs to leave at a moments notice- be prepared to act quickly

For a few brief seconds I entertained the question "what have I gotten myself into?"

We had to be in our vans on the tarmac and ready to roll as the plane landed. It was fun watching the entourage exit the plane and head to the vehicles. I had the pleasure of driving Mike DeWine and his family and several of Sarah Palin's staff. I do know I drove Sarah's hairdresser and makeup artist - but I do not know the responsibilities of the other staffers in the van. It was fun to listen to their conversations. I heard things like "where are we again?" and "what day is it?" - it was obvious that the pace is crazy. One of the staffers was quickly going through the local paper and scanning headlines. They were all talking about "Joe the Plumber" and how they were so sorry how his life had been affected.

The drive to and from the event was interesting. The police shut down all roads as we passed through an area. People did line certain areas of the route holding signs, honking horns, and cheering.

During the event we had to stay with our vehicles. I enjoyed watching the behind-the-scenes activities. My van was parked right next to an empty sedan with two secret service agents which was next to Sarah Palin's Suburban. I had fun watching Bristol (oldest daughter) and Trig (baby) hanging out. Baby Trig has his own Secret Service detail - too cute.



Once we returned to the airport we were told it would be about two hours before we could meet Sarah Palin. The staff was going to eat lunch and then she had to meet with the press. We grabbed some lunch and then hung out in the airport until we were summoned back to the tarmac.

Ok, so I may not be objective, being that I am a big Sarah Palin fan. However, I admire her even more now after watching her throughout the day and speaking to her. She was never rushed with people - even though her staff seemed to want to hurry her along. When I met her she was warm, looked me straight in the eye, shook my hand, and stopped to speak for a few seconds. I told her I was a fellow "mother of five" and that our family supported her. She shared a bit about her son who left for the military in September. Her comment was "that turkey, he isn't calling home enough!" She thanked all of us for spending our day volunteering and how much she appreciated us. Again, she took the time to stop and chat with us in a friendly manner. I stand beside my initial reason for supporting her - she is a real person, in touch with the real America, and I think she could bring some fresh air to stuffy Washington DC. A group photo was taken which will be sent to us from the campaign staff. I can't wait for it to arrive!

Everyone I encountered on her staff was very friendly and courteous. The press traveling with them didn't seem quite as friendly. Imagine that. We were told that if we drove a press van to keep quiet and drive. We were instructed to not have any small talk or conversations with them. I am glad I was given a staff van to drive. ;)

When the Palin staff departed they were headed to Noblesville, Indiana which is my sister's hometown. How funny is that? When leaving the airport I called my sister to let her know that Sarah was on her way. My sister was headed to the rally.

The long day was definitely worth the experience. It was a terrific opportunity to observe the massive details that go into an event and see security detail, staffers, and of course Sarah Palin up close and personal.




Official driver - what a hoot






Now get out and VOTE people!

The Patriotic Driver

Sarah Palin is speaking in West Chester tomorrow. She will be just 5 minutes from my house! I went to John Boehner's office first thing yesterday morning to retrieve tickets for the event. If Sarah Palin was going to be that close to me, believe me, I was going to find a way to attend.

I received the ultimately hilarious telephone call last night. As background info, my brother-in-law is very active in the Republican party here in Cincinnati. He is always involved when Republican hotshots come to town. So Jim calls me last night and asks if I want to work at the Sarah Palin event. Uh, yeah! He is responsible for assigning motorcade drivers for Sarah and her entourage for the day. He figured I would love to be involved and knew I could handle driving a 15-passenger van since I have been driving big 'ol SUVs full of children for years. Ha, I knew that skill would pay off!

Long story short - I had to submit all of my vital info for a background check and will report for my patriotic duty first thing tomorrow morning. I'll drive a group from the airport to the event sight, spend the day with them, and drive them back to the airport at the end of the event. Ironically, Sarah Palin will leave West Chester and travel to Noblesville, Indiana which is my sister's hometown. My sister is attending the event. How funny is that?

I can't wait to see what unfolds tomorrow. Hopefully I will have the opportunity to meet Sarah Palin and let her know in person that I support her. I would love for her to make it to Washington and shake the place up.

Never a dull moment...

There's no place like home...

I grew up in a tiny rural town in Indiana named Farmland. No, I'm not joking. Farmland, Indiana - population of about 1,000 is my hometown. Let's get a few things straight. Yes, the town is surrounded by farms. No, I did not grow up on a farm. Yes, it is true, there are no stoplights in town. However, there is a Pizza King, a grocery store, a liquor store, a Village Pantry (sort of like UDF for you buckeyes), a library, and 4 churches. My parents and grandmother still live in Farmland, and our children love going home. The children look for two landmarks that signal we have arrived in Farmland. The first is the water tower and the second is the grain elevator; both are pictured above.

This past Saturday was Fire Prevention Day. This day is a huge tradition in Farmland and I have participated in the event my entire life. I'm surprised no one has heard about it on CNN! Why there is a parade, cake walk, prizes given away to the kids (including his and her bikes), fire truck rides, and even a dance!

The little kids and I traveled home to Indiana this past Saturday to enjoy Fire Prevention Day. My sister and her children came home as well. We had a big 'ol day!

The parade was complete with loud sirens and candy thrown to the eager spectators. The kids were armed and ready with their bags. Next came the fire truck rides. Marco elected to pass but Ana Lucia, Gustavo, and my nephews Seth and Joel rode. Oh, and me too. The kids didn't want to go alone so up I climbed on top of the fire truck. We rode through town with the lights flashing and sirens blaring. We even passed Nana and Papa's house (my parents). They were waving proudly from the porch along with Marco. Later Gus and my nephew Seth hung out with me while they were drawing names for prizes. Seth won a remote control Jeep! We then participated in the cake walk. We had no luck winning a cake. Phooey. Ana Lucia and I tried again later in the afternoon. Participation in the cake walk is my way of supporting the volunteer fire department - one quarter at at time. My sister and I tried to get her 17 year old son to take us to the Fire Prevention Dance on Saturday evening. He declined. Hmmmm, I wonder why?

The weather was beautiful and the activities splendid! It was fun to spend the day with my sister and her kids, my parents, and my grandmother. Life in a small town seemed boring to me at times when growing up. I love the fact that my children enjoy going home and experiencing small-town America.



The cousins making their way to the parade



The first candy thrown!



Ana Lucia, Seth, and Gustavo

Can you say CRAZY (groupie) excited?!

Tonight I am headed downtown with my friend Molly to enjoy an awesome evening of music with Steven Curtis Chapman and Michael W. Smith! It doesn't get any better than this folks.

Who doesn't remember the "Friends" song by MWS from our college days? Not only do I love SCC's music but his family's passion for international adoption. This will be my 3rd SCC concert. I saw him most recently in March - the weekend of the blizzard. Four of us crazy girls hopped into my 4 wheel-drive SUV and headed to the concert. It was so much fun! The crowd was small due to the weather; there were probably only 200 people there. It was like a cozy intimate concert. As we drove home we literally could not see any lanes on the interstate as they were all snow covered. Once I got to our neighborhood I had to guess where the road was and hauled booty to get to our driveway. Thinking back it probably wasn't the smartest decision to be out. Oh well, we survived. All of the husbands thought we were nuts...

No blizzards tonight. We are in the 4th row, and from reviews of last night's opening show, we are in for a treat.

Think of me tonight...I'll be whooping it up. ;)

Date Night/Dance Party

Mark and I try to treat ourselves to a date night occasionally. One of the fringe benefits of having teenagers is that we can hire them whenever we feel the need! We went out last night to celebrate our anniversary since Mark was in Nashville on Tuesday night. He was lucky enough to find a room at a Red Roof Inn due to the Presidential debates being in Nashville. I asked him if John McCain and Barak Obama were staying at the Red Roof Inn. In case you are wondering – he didn’t see any signs of either candidate or the secret service. Gee, and you would think the candidates would be trying to be frugal with our money during this time of financial crisis…

Zack and Katie are really awesome babysitters. The videos show highlights of a recent date night when Katie was watching the little ones. That Katie - she is so much fun! Why she lets the kids dress up, listen to wild music, and discover their inner dancing and musical talent!

Marco is "Woody", Gustavo a fireman, and Ana Lucia just a mismatched-dressed-pitiful-looking girl. For the record, Katie would NEVER dress Ana Lucia in such an outfit. It is the dear child's neglectful mother that allows her to dress herself when we are hanging out at home.

Should I be concerned that my three youngest children know the lyrics to Mama Mia?

A Drop in the Ocean

Another reason for this blog is to share one of our family’s passions. We were first introduced to Guatemala through the adoption of Marco. We were so naïve. Initially we believed we were simply welcoming a child to our family. Little did we know how we would grow to love the country of Guatemala and the people. Guatemala is a land of intense beauty right along with intense poverty and inequality.

Over the past 6 ½ years we have traveled to Guatemala for a variety of reasons including adoption and mission work. I have traveled nearly 20 times and continue to learn more on each trip. Our teenagers have served on several mission trips as well. It is an awesome opportunity to be right alongside your teens and experience ministering to the needs of others in a developing country.

From time to time I will share some of our experiences as well as opportunities that lie before us to make a difference. My kids and I have been blessed to be able to participate in activities including painting and laying sod at an orphanage, delivering supplies and playing with children at orphanages, cooking at a feeding center, fitting an entire village’s children with new shoes, reading with kids at a community library, spending time in a rural village to begin the learning process of some of the realities of poverty, delivered school supplies to a junior high school, and many more.

The photos will provide a glimpse of who we hang out with when we’re in Guatemala. So many of these precious people feel forgotten and insignificant – which simply breaks my heart.

The following quote is one of my favorite from a blog that I read written by a missionary family serving in Haiti.

“To enter in to lives that are this different from my own is so humbling. Whether or not we can solve their every problem, it is always an opportunity to show love, be loving, and offer warmth and caring to them. At times there is the overwhelming sense of "I cannot even begin to address or understand this woman's problems" - and then the tendency to pull away emotionally because of feeling inadequate or unable to help. When you believe that because you cannot understand someone’s hardship you should not enter in - you're buying a lie that sells you short and keeps you from the blessing that love brings.”

~Tara Livesay

Why has our family committed to serving the people of Guatemala? Quite simply, it is our calling. Is it a drop in the ocean? Certainly. If even one person’s life is touched by a pair of shoes we deliver or a blanket we share or a meal we help fix so the mother can sit down and enjoy a meal with her family then that drop in the ocean is so worth it.

“What can I do?” is a question many ask. Trust me; there is so much we can do. Just ask me…

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” Proverbs 31:8

19 Years and Counting...

Nineteen years ago today I married the love of my life. We met in college, and attribute our marriage partly to the wise words of my mother. I shared with her that I had met a guy at school and he had asked me out a few times. He was a student athlete, and I am not a sports fan. I was hesitant to agree to a date with him. I told my mother that he was probably just a "dumb jock". Very casually my mother suggested that I go on just one date with the guy. In her words "it is only one evening of your life. If he is a dumb jock or a jerk then don't go out with him again. Who knows what you could be missing out on". I swear it was God speaking right through the woman!

Mark claims he knew after just a few dates that we were destined to be together. We both graduated from college and he went on to play three years of professional baseball while I began working on my career. The day we were married we had not lived in the same state for 18 months. I lived alone, traveled for my job alone, and was quite independent. Mark had "lived" with an entire baseball team, traveled as a team, and was quite used to the life of an athlete. Needless to say there were some pretty significant transitions for the both of us once we married!

We settled in Indianapolis and got busy living life - working on our careers with future plans of children. Mark thought 2 children sounded fine while I dreamed of 3 or 4. Whatever the number of children we were blessed with we were going to have them when we were young and close together in age. Our master plan was to have them grown up and out of the house while we were still young. I was pretty intent on working hard and achieving titles and promotions. God must have enjoyed watching us script our "master plan" and had a few laughs at what was in store for our family.

It doesn't seem possible that we have been married for 19 years! My husband is one of the most generous people I know. He loves his family, he loves my family, he loves our family. He is my rock-solid steady ship. He is an amazing father. He is a great cook! He is dedicated to his career, and never complains or talks negatively about his co-workers. He is disciplined and self-motivated. He was right beside me holding my hand through two c-section deliveries and not one, not two, but three adoptions. Trust me, he deserves sainthood for those accomplishments alone! He tucks his children in bed, tells wild bedtime stories, takes his children fishing, hunting, golfing, an occasional shopping trip, and treats me to nights away to refuel. He takes us on great vacations and is always supportive of my multiple trips to Guatemala every year.

Nineteen years ago today Mark was playing golf with his buddies - an important way to prepare for a wedding. I was running around getting my hair and nails done and hoping all would come together. It was a beautiful fall day.

We have been blessed beyond anything we ever dreamed. We are surrounded by parents, siblings, nieces and nephews, grandparents, friends, and 5 incredible children who remind us daily the importance of love.

Here is to 19 years and a gazillion more. I love you honey!

In the beginning

I've been writing a blog in my mind for about a year. Today I decided to sit down and actually commit myself. I love reading blogs. Why? Well, some might say I am a nosey person. I suppose I am, but I have always been a "people watcher". I love sitting in airports, at sporting events, or anywhere and simply watching the people around me. I also love learning from other's life experiences. Reading blogs is the ultimate people-watching-and-learning-from-others opportunity.

My reason for starting a blog centers around capturing the everyday of our family life and commiting it to hard copy for my children. I'm certain they'll not read it (too boring or embarrassing). However, someday the words will hopefully be a treasure to them - sort of a memory book.

For those of you who may not know our family well - allow me to give you a glimpse. My husband and I have been married for 19 years (tomorrow) and have 5 children. Apparently we are considered a "big family" in today's culture. We receive many comments when others learn we are the parents to 5...some sweet and some not so sweet. Most of the comments center around "you must be insane". We have two teenagers, a son and daughter, who are our biological children. We have 3 little ones, two sons and a daughter, ages 7, 5, and 2 who joined our family through international adoption from Guatemala at 8.5 months, 6 months, and 4 months of age.

Becoming an American-Guatemalan family has changed our world in so many ways. Our family has fallen in love with the country and people of Guatemala. We have continued to travel to Guatemala and are committed to mission work and building and maintaining friendships.

Life is a bit crazy with toddlers to teens. Our pastor used a quote that I really identify with. He said "Everyone is going somewhere...some people go somewhere on purpose. " This is one of my hopes for our family - going somewhere on purpose.

I'll use my sister's idea when she began her blog and share a bit about myself.

*I love Diet Coke, hate mornings, and have a bad habit of staying up way too late.

*With 5 children the laundry is never caught up, the dishes never all clean, the house always a bit messy, and there is never a shortage of hugs, kisses, and cuddles.

*I love to travel and will probably spend my last dime on an airline ticket. ;)

*I love to read and get a big kick out of the fact that my children love to read as well!

*I love photography and have a goal of developing my interest into a skill. My 14 year old daughter already has a great eye for taking great shots. I want to be like her!

*I write whatever I am thinking so forgive any improper use of grammar or punctuation. I need an editor.

*A bit of trivia: we have 2 SUV's, 1 car, six carseats, 4 strollers, a zillion bikes and trikes, thousands of sippy cups (of which most are lost), and millions of unmatched socks in the laundry room.

Welcome to the adventure of life at our home. My mother once told a friend "Oh, it is chaotic at my daughter's house, but it is a house full of love." I couldn't ask for a higher compliment.