Bittersweet goodbyes...

We couldn't remember what time the girls were suppose to be picked up(imagine that), so we thought we would go down and check the lobby around 3:30. Well, when we got there, Maya's foster mom was standing there. It took us a bit by surprise, as we thought she was suppose to go back at 4pm. Maya was very confused, as we thought she might be, and sadly went back to her foster mom. While we were standing there talking to her, Sofia's foster family appeared, and our little walk to the lobby quickly become our goodbyes. Sadly, it was very hard for us, but because it happened so fast, there wasn't a lot of time for tears. We hugged and kissed the girls, and sent them on with their foster parents. Thank goodness we have been through this before, as it made it a bit more bareable, even though it was still very hard. We know it won't be long before we return to take them home for good. Please say a little prayer for them tonight, especially for Maya, as it was hard for her to leave her Papa.(Bus) Also, stick a little prayer in there for us, as we miss them, but also miss our kiddos back home! We will be back home tomorrow, so this will be one of the last posts from Guatemala. Keep checking in, cause I know we will be hearing good news soon!
Here are a few of my favorite pics from the day. I hope you enjoy them as much as we did!
Love, Sabra and Bus






Sofia's bath-"Um, How's about a little privacy, here"


















Maya's bath-"Why did ya have to wash my hair?"





















A little snack before her bath!





















Sofia asks,"Brrrrr...where's my clothes?"




















Sofia says,"Gee...the bow sure warms a girl up!
Oh, and by the way, can you pray for my sister Maya-she is sad tonight"

















Maya drinking her favorite drink-juice! Sure wish I had a pocket for my hand!


























Maya and her Papa! She sure does LOVE him=o)

One more picture post before we turn in for the night

We won't write much now, because we are exhausted. This was another really great day. We had a lot of fun!!


Here are some pictures to enjoy....


























And just so you know, we had our moments 8-)

Good morning from Guatemala!

Well, Bus and I are sitting here with the drapes drawn-all in the dark, quietly sipping our morning coffee, while our two little Guatemalan princesses are still sleeping! We thought we might take a glimpsie at the blog and read your responses! Thanks for the responses-they give us our only connection to the folks back home! Since my husband is too cheap to get a calling card! Ha ha-he's sitting right next to me 8-) Anyway...we were just downloading a few pictures from dinner last night, and bedtime, and thought we would share! We miss everbody so much, and wish we could ALL be home together!!! Thanks for all the prayers-we trully feel God's presence! To our moms and dads, thanks for keeping our home fire burning!!XOXOXO
Love, Bus, Sabra, Maya and Sofia













Hannah - here are Maya's curls. She has a head full of them!! They are beautiful. Everyone here is jeaolous of them.











Big Kisses for Sofia from big sister Maya Mishelle


















Sofia looking for her steak and potatos. We looked for the steak flavored formula, but couldn't find any.













Playing with bubbles before bedtime. Maya's looking sassy in her Dora bedtime jammies as she stomps the bubbles with her shoes!! She ALWAYS wants to wear her shoes.

















Here's Sofia playing peak-a-boo in her sleep. Bus, remember, don't leave her headband on while she sleeps!! Ha Ha










Picture of the girls with their Mamma!

A fix for all those looking for more pics!!

I just thought I would show off a couple more pics we took today!! We are all up from our naps-although Maya is a slow waker! We are getting ready to go down for some dinner, and then some more playtime in the playroom and then bedtime!!!Exciting , huh!! Ha Ha!! I have so much to say, but so little time-we love you all, and miss everyone very much!!(Especially our big girl, Hannah, a big boy, Caleb!!)
Love, sabra, Bus, Maya & Sofia

Can you tell what time it is?

Need I say more?







Need I say more?

Maya Mishelle is here, too!!!!

Maya Mishelle arrived at 9:30am! She is even more beautiful in person than she is in pictures! She is absolutely breathtaking!! She is adjusting wonderfully-and ADORES her daddy!! She is taking a little while to warm up to me-but is coming around! (It must be that blond hair!!) Ha ha! We are having a wonderful time, and are all adjusting to being together! I will just hush now, and post some pictures, isn't that why you are checking the blog?! Ha ha! Enjoy the beauty that we are seeing for real!!! She is going to be quite the soccer player, Hannah, as she can kick a ball!!! You girls are gonna LOVE each other!! She is soooooo playful!!!!!!!!!
We love you, Sabra, Bus, Maya, and Sofia!

Hannah, This is a special post just for you

You were so sad that you couldn’t come with on this trip. I wanted you to know how sad mom and I are also. Everything we do brings back happy memories of the trips you made with us down here, and we wish you were here with us. I just want you to know that you are truly an incredible person with an amazing heart and spirit. Caleb, Maya and Sofia are unbelievably blessed to have you as their sister.

Here is a little part mom’s and my trip down memory lane…

Remember our Guatemalan adoption journey started on August 24, 2005. That was the day we came home from that horrible Russian trip. We missed you so much and were so sad with how things were going, we kept you home from school (shhh – don’t tell Ms. Burns) and laughed and cried together all day. You and mom and I talked and decided that we weren’t giving up on our adoption dream – we were just moving it from Russia to Guatemala. What we didn’t know is that, as part of God’s plan, that very same day Caleb was born in Guatemala.

In November, we left on our first trip to Guatemala to visit Caleb. It was your first airplane ride (that you remember – you went to San Diego and San Antonio when you were a little baby).

I remember how excited you were on the shuttle in the Houston airport.

Everything we see in Guatemala brings back memories of you being here with us. Do you remember the little grocery store where we bought water and some snacks for the room? Mom and I went there yesterday, we went up stairs to look around (where the toys are) because that was your favorite thing to do.

Last night when we went to meet Sofia for the very first time, it brought back memories of meeting Caleb for the first time. Do you remember we all took at nap (well mom and I did at least) they called while we were still sleeping because they came early. When we went down, remember the man in the elevator who prayed with us?

We took Sofia to the baby room and immediately thought of you. I remember you doing your puppet show for us.

Last night mom and I ate at LaVista. The waiter who brought you that special tea when you didn’t feel good was there. He remembered you and asked how you were doing.





Remember the night that you and Caleb put on the Big Sister/Little Brother T-shirts mom made for you? She's a good momma, isn't she!!

















I remember you swimming in the awesome Marriott pool. You won’t be too sad though, because it is shut down right now, you can’t even see it.












Do you remember the gift shop in the Marriott? And what about the little market by the airport?Here you were - eating an icecream bar from the market.








I said the happy memories, well, there was one
sad one. The night we had to give Caleb back. I am writing this before we have to give Sofia and Maya back so I am not sad yet. But as fun as this trip is for us, we still have to give the girls back and so we will have that horrible gut wrenching feeling again. Even though you aren’t here with us, I bet you will have a little cry when you see our posts about giving the girls back.

But my memory of you that last day was how mature you are. You bounced right back and we went to Sirabella’s for dinner. You got all dressed up and looked so sophisticated. Mommy and I were so proud of you – your strength helped pull us through that night as well. And, the most important thing was that we still had you to hug and hold and take with us back to Ky.


Those are just a few of our memories, I know there are many more!! The good news is that both girls are in PGN and so in just a couple of weeks, we will back to get Maya and then Sofia a couple of weeks after that.

We love you, Hannahbelle and want you to know that our trip isn’t complete without you here.

Love,
Dad and Mom

Our first pictures

Sofia came about 5:0o (guat time). She is such a cutie!!
We'll post some more pictures later.

Love - Bus, Sabra and Sofia

We made it to Guatemala!!

Hello everyone,
Just wanted to let you know that we made it. We had a great trip, nice flights both times. We are settled into our room here at the Marriott.

We don't know when the kids are coming, but we are trying to find out.

We will write more later!!

Love,
Bus and Sabra

Sofia enters PGN!!!!

Oh, my goodness-we got the good news by email this morning! Sofia's adoption case has entered the final stage!! This is usually the longest stage, anywhere from 2-3 months, but it is the most important! We are hoping for a speedy process, and hope to have her home soon! Yes, Maya's case is also in PGN, but we are hoping that she is sitting on the director's desk, waiting to be signed OUT!

We are headed off to Guatemala to visit the girls, tomorrow! Pray for our visit, that it go smoothly, and the girls don't have too much trouble leaving their foster families! Also, pray for Caleb and Hannah to be good for their Grandmas and Grandpas-as they are not going to Guatemla with us, they are staying home with grand parents taking care of them!

Well-keep your eyes open, as we will be posting from Guatemala!!!!!!!!!!

Love,
Sabra, Bus, Hannah, Caleb, Maya, and Sofia!!!!!!!!!

Latest news and happenings!

Well, we found out this last week that lil Miss Sofie has received preapproval. What does that mean, you ask? Basically, it is the approval from the US embassy that through a DNA test, and documentation received, that Sofia has been determined to be an orphan, and therefore is adoptable. Without preapproval, the adoption could never be completed. It is one of many important steps along the Guatemalan adoption process. We are happy to have this step completed, as it is necessary for PGN-the final court process before the adoption can be completed. We have not received any updated pictures of Sofia since early December, so I will have to post some when I get new ones!

Maya's case is still in PGN-and we are hoping to get the call that we are out anytime! We are getting excited/anxious, as there are other children getting out of PGN that entered the same day as Maya! We believe it is a matter of time, and of course we are trying to be patient!

Caleb is doing great! He is getting a bunch of his molars, but still has no bottom front teeth! Funny, I know-but if he doesn't get them anytime soon-we will just hold out for his permanent teeth! He is growing by leaps and bounds, and grows funnier everyday!

Hannah is growing excited too, but has been busy going to skating birthday parties! She went to two just this weekend!

She loves her little brother, and his little face lights up when she comes into the room! I cannot begin to imagine what it will be like to have two more girls in the house! Oh, the giggles and screaming we will have! Here is a picture of Hannah playing with one of her Webkinz!

No new updates, just wanted to say hi!

Hi!
We are putting away Christmas decor, like every body else, and actually, I am ready to do so! Christmas was nice this year, but Bus' family was all away, Bus was battling kidneystones, and our dog, Chia, had to have emergency eye surgery!

We haven't gotten any new word on the girls in awhile, but the American Embassy in Guatemala was closed quite a bit over the holidays, and a lot of people take vacations over the holidays! We are hoping to get word soon that Maya is out of PGN, and ready for us to come and bring her home! I will let you know when we hear this-you probably will hear me screaming with excitement! I am still guessing that Sofia will come home around April/May!

Since I don't have a lot to talk about, I will share some pictures-they are always fun-so here goes!

Take care,
Love, Sabra