"It was only a *small* fire, Mom."

Yes, that IS what Ana said to me this afternoon when I got back from the store. 

For real.

I left she & her best friend to take the last batch of cookies out of the oven.  (Yes, Dave was home-thank goodness!)

Imagine my horror to get this text: 
"Kitchen fire, but everyone & most everything is OK." 

WHAT?!   (That was my response text to Dave-& he didn't answer me!!  I had to call home & find out that a hot pad had accidently fallen on the oven coil when they were removing the cookies.)

The cookies were a hit, & the girls made some memories (some better than others, lol) this afternoon!

Good Friends......What a blessing!

I am blessed to count these women among my friends.  This was taken Sunday after church.  I hAave heard it said that every woman needs many friends-friends for different areas of her life.....& this picture portrays a slice of that truth in my life.  My sister, a friend from at least 25 years ago, & a newer friend.....who has helped me through many a parenting woe......

Have you found this to be true?







L to R: Me, My sister Shannon, My friend Valerie & my friend Amy

Ok....I am not crazy! We actually pulled it off!

A double sleepover!

Zoo Lights.......& yes, I have a bit more on my mind.....

My friend Amy & I took our kids to the Zoo Lights the other night.
Bundled up the kids & just did it!

They all had such a good time-& even though that kind of thing is a whole ton of work for the mamas (lost kids wallet, cranky kids, runny noses etc, lost children in crowds……you know just what I mean) Amy & I still had a great time watching the kids enjoy the animals & chatting away the stroll through the zoo.

Amy with Liese, Alayna & Anjali

(above)

Ana, Alayna & Anjali

But…..

I’m also sad tonight. (blogging on Sunday night)

Our good friends Andy & Jenica lost their sweet baby girl at 23 weeks on Saturday.

Daisy Lou-what a beautiful name.

This baby was so wanted-& I am just sad for them-although I know they are trusting God that she is in a better place.

I know my faithful readers know that I understand their pain.

I wish I could be there for them-to hug them & cry with them.

But I can’t.

“Father in Heaven, please heal their broken hearts through your Word.”

How can I be feeling two distinct different things at once?

So thrilled for good times with friends & heartbroken all at once?

Life is often hard……but GOD is always good, even when we don’t understand.

Won't you join me in praying for this precious family?

P.S. I mentioned this last week, but continue to stay tuned because changes are coming at "Dillon Days & Doings!"

PLEASE PRAY FOR OUR FRIENDS!!!!!

These are our friends we met in Guatemala on our visit trip last November.

She & several of her friends were invoved in that horrible accident in Chicago yesterday.

Please run over to her blog, so you can see what her hubby had to say about it &

find out how to pray.....

Maybe we could turn this into kind-of a prayer chain......

If a few of you would post this request on your own blogs today & link back to my blog, I will let her know about all the people we have praying for her & her friends & the families who lost members yesterday.

Thanks!!!!

Easter Egg Dying.......& Memory Making

Today, my brave friend Amy had us over to dye eggs.

What makes her brave, you ask?

My three kids + her three kids=ONE BRAVE hostess, especially when three of the kids are under age two!!


One spilled cup of dye, & several near misses later……..

We loaded up kids (w/ full tummys-thank-you, Amy) & dyed eggs. But, best of all, we loaded up on memories to pack up & drag back out again next year when we do it again. (like we have every year for the past 4 or 5 years).

I am so thankful for friends that make life so much fun, & help to make traditions we have enjoyed every year.

Thanks again, Amy!

Photos of my hostess did not cooperate today, so you will have to just trust that I did not attempt to do this on my own!

Making memories are one of the best parts of having friends, don't you think?

Precious Time w/ Far-flung Friends & Updated Adoption Timeline

The Ericsons were in town for the weekend to celebrate Todd's 40th birthday!!

We had a great time together! 2 parties & church in one weekend!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

For our family and friends who are not otherwise involved in Guatemalan adoptions, here's what happens from the point of getting OUT of PGN!

(I came across this on-line, & thought it was a good explaination.)


1. Final Decree. The Final Decree is issued by the Notary in charge of the process and signed by the Birth Mother (or the child's Representative), the Mandatory and the Notary. This is the day the child becomes the legal child of the adopting parents.

On Jan 17th, the Final Decree was issued.


2. Civil Registry Issues New Birth Certificate. Once the Final Decree is signed, the Notary in charge submits a request for a new birth certificate to the Civil Registry where the child's birth is registered. The Civil Registry will issue a new Birth Certificate showing the child's birth first name and the adoptive parent's last name.
Takes about a week or so. Our case worker thought we should have this done by late this week or early next.


3. Passport. Once the new Birth Certificate arrives, the Notary in charge submits a file to Immigration in Guatemala to request the child's passport.

The passport can be picked up within 30 minutes of request.



4. The Final Package & DNA authorization. The Final Package (including all paperwork & THE NEW BC & PASSPORT) is submitted to the US Embassy. Within 24 hours the Embassy issues authorization (the Orange Slip) for second DNA test and Embassy Medical Exam.

The passport and Orange Slip should happen 1-2 days from receipt of BC.



5. DNA Sample and Medical Exam. The child is taken to the Embassy doctor for a medical exam (to ensure no strange diseases are brought into the US) and a second DNA sample (to ensure the child is the same child that got pre-approval when the process began). The DNA sample is sent to a laboratory in the States. The test results are sent to the US Embassy in Guatemala.

DNA test results are taking about 2 weeks from the date the sample is taken, although our DNA lab generally runs a bit faster.



6. Visa Appointment Scheduled (Pink Slip). Once the DNA test results are received by the US Embassy, the visa appointment is scheduled and the adoptive parents notified. The notification is called the Pink Slip. The Pink Slip is emailed (it did literally use to be a PINK SLIP of paper-I know, because I picked up Ruth's myself) within 48 hours of the Embassy receiving DNA confirmation.

The appointment dates are approximately 10 days to 2 weeks from when they are issued. This is the date/appointment we MUST be in Guatemala for, so out travel dates revolve around the date of our PINK SLIP appointment.


7. Visa Appointment. The child is taken to the US Embassy by the adopting parents to apply for the visa, & the parents swear to care for the child until they reach the age of 18. The following day the child's US Visa is ready for pick up. After that, the child can enter the United States!

The day after our visa is picked up, Nathaniel will be headed to his NEW home!

Aspen in the Fall

I think you will agree...there is nothing quite like the aspen in Colorado this time of year.

My friend Amy & I, spent an afternoon in the mountains west of Colorado Springs yesterday, & here were some of the views.

STUNNING!!!

Our Creator shows His handiwork with such variety, doesn't He?

This time of year, we see it vividly everywhere we turn, no matter where we live!

Brisk wind made our hike a little chilly, but all in all, it was a fun day!

Alayna, Anjali & Ana taking a well-deserved break!

Ruth hanging out in the Visitor's Center.

On our way back down the pass, we saw a fire on Mt. Manitou. We pulled off the road for a short time to watch it burn, & the girls were treated to the sight of shooting flames & ariplanes dropping slurry to put out the fire.

This morning, the fire is almost out, & last time I checked the news, no buildings were threatened, & no people injured, PTL!!!

BUT, it did really impress the girls!