The analogy returns

Adoption is like:
Well, sometimes its like writing on this blog, or writing in general for me, since this is my primary place for doing it. Many days, I'm extremely excited about it. I'd encourage anyone and everyone to try it. Other days though, it can seem a little like a chore, and just something I have to keep doing, whether I'm excited about it or not. It is not for everyone. Some people can't write well or adopt, others who could and do so well, don't realize it. Some days I feel like I have tons to say. Others, I'd rather not say anything at all. Some days I wonder if anyone cares at all, but most days I'm amazed at how many sincerely do, especially those I've never actually met. And for the final similarity, yes, people will read or listen to your story, but they mostly just want to see the pictures.

A few more songs from last week...


Amazing Grace - Chris Tomlin
How Can I Keep from Singing - Chris Tomlin
Lift Your Eyes - Leeland
The Love Song - Phil Joel


It was a fairly busy weekend, with a fun church SS fellowship Friday night, a harvest festival at my daughter's daycare Saturday, and a full day of church activities again today. That said, I'm still struggling to get in my writing schedule again. I still have a few ideas brewing, but not enough time to get them formulated enough to put down on the computer yet.


I hope you all are doing well, and that you had a good weekend also.
-Tim.

Hello again...

Sorry for my absence. I've been around. Just not writing. I'll try to get back in the swing again. Part of it was having the computer disconnected a few days while we did a little rearranging. Seems like this is a busy time of the year for us, as I'm sure it is for everyone.
It will likely be no news on the adoption for a while, since we're in the 'black hole' of PGN.
The dark analogies come easier for me, so I haven't had much inspiration there right now either.
One thing I have been thinking about is starting a little run of 'songs that make me smile' posts. You see, listening to music is one of my favorite things. I listen most of the day while working.
Here's just a few of the many songs lately that have made me smile:
Sing like the Saved - a Matt Redman song, but sung by David Crowder Band on The Lime CD.
Funny - by Todd Agnew from Better Questions
What a Heart is Beating For - Chris Rice from that same cd.

Hope you are all doing well. - Tim

It just feels so good to be 'in'. I know it's not the end, but for so long we've had no hope since we couldn't get out if we couldn't get in. It's a little stormy out, but I'm still smiling. Thank you again to everyone praying for us. I know many of you are in the trenches with us and you are being prayed for as well.
If any of you ever ask yourself, "how do they do this?". It is God and God alone. He loves us and cares for us in ways we can't even understand. Everyday I'm more and more amazed at the support you all provide to us, and I know it is God who brought you all to us.
I hope this finds you all well.

Finally able to post good news...

Yes, today, October 17, 2007, we again entered PGN. It feels like such a relief. I'm honestly not sure it's set in yet. I'm praying for some healing during this time, as the last few weeks have been so tough. I'm actually looking quite forward to hearing no news for a while, since we won't know too much while we're in.

I hope everyone is well. -Tim

For you finished folks out there...

I don't know how popular this site is, but if you are an adoptive parent who is already through, I'd encourage you to review your agency on the following site:
http://www.adoptionagencyratings.com/
Whether you had a good or bad experience, let others know about it (especially if it was bad, since those aren't the references the agency will be giving out).
If you're still in process, I'd say wait. My personal experience with my agency is drastically different now than it was when we started. Early on, I would have, (and did), recommended them to anyone. However, now, I don't think I could ever in good conscience do so unless some things DRASTICALLY change. There are too many problems in my opinion just in their setup in general. Anyway, just wanted to encourage anyone who hasn't done it and can, to do so for those who come behind them.
Also, if there are any other similar sites, etc., just let me know. I'll keep a note of those also.
One other quick note about the site I have noticed. If you search by state, you get different results depending on whether you type the abbreviation or the name spelled out so you might want to look at both.

As promised, the perfect pumpkins...

We had a great time today.

still not in pgn...

basically, it just didn't get done. not sure it even matters so much exactly why anymore. no one from the agency responded today to my e-mail.

Tomorrow though, we pick the perfect pumpkin (per my daughter). Have a great night. -Tim

Tonight's post brought to you by the letter T...

Ten terrible turtles tried tenaciously to traverse the tundra, then turned toward tall trees thinking thoughts that tended to tame their temper. Triumphantly they took two tiny tortured trusting treefrogs to the train. Their Toyota toy truck tires tediously tracked the trails, thumping the typhoon table top to the tenor's torrential tempo.

Thanks...

Quick post..

I did speak with the agency today. Another update saying the attorney had the necessary info for the embassy, but didn't have it in hand yet when he checked in. So, who knows. We'll hope for the best.

Adoption is like a balloon. The same thing that can bring so much joy sometimes brings such sadness. (Ever watched a child's face when their balloon floated away into the sky?). Sometimes it's filled with a lot of hot air. They can be dangerous. Some last longer than others. They come in many colors.

Have a great night.

liner notes?

Tonight's a little more serious. I've had a hard day. I'm not really sure why it was different, but I just really struggled today, such that I decided to take some mental health time this afternoon and leave work early. I had accomplished my big goals for the day already, and couldn't focus anyway, so I'll just use up some of the vacation time I've been saving for when we do come home. It's looking like my time may renew before then anyway.
It's not that I've lost faith. Don't assume that at all. It's just that sometimes this all weighs me down. At one point today I was thinking again back to one of my very first posts about how this feels like a hostage situation. In some ways, I think it may be worse than then because it has been dragging on for so much longer now, and even the agency relationship is quite strained presently. Our updates from Guatemala were wrong so often that they've essentially stopped giving them to us until they can be absolutely sure they are right. So now we really are in the dark. I have no idea why we're not back in yet. I have left a message asking to give us something, but they're being pretty adamant about their stance now, so we'll see.

In an effort to leave on a little more positive note, some thank yous are in order. (I got some new CD's lately, and I actually read the thank yous in the liner, so you have to also.)

Thanks to my parents. You guys always support us.
Thanks to my in-laws. You too.
Thanks to my amigos in my attorney's alumni club. SV and AB. Your info and willingness to share even after your out of the fire has been amazing and so encouraging.
Thanks to all the other EN parents out there who've found us. I've enjoyed your stories, too.
To d:). Thanks for sharing your heart and much wisdom on your blog.
To my church peeps. Keep praying.
To my work friends, you help make the work days bearable.
To anyone else maybe reading, for your even curious interest.

Speaking of curious, is there anyone else out there who also reads that stuff? Some artists are pretty funny leaving messages buried in there. You should try it some time.
Anyway, toodles...

here goes...

No new news about our case as usual. Perhaps one day we'll make it home with our boy. Until then, more analogies:

Adoption is like:
Burger King. You can have it your way, (as long as that's really their way and something they're used to doing). Employees there and in adoption work often don't really seem to enjoy people. Don't ask for anything extra, unless you're willing to suffer the consequences. Asking to speak to a manager isn't nearly as helpful as you'd like it to be. Sometimes the service is slow. (Or maybe even fast for everyone there but you).

Adoption is like tennis:
It all starts with love...(did I really just write that?). Lots of questionable calls get made, but arguing them seldom changes anything. Sometimes it goes fast, but other matches go on forever. It's played in several countries. There's lots of volleying shots back and forth. There are sometimes lots of 'service errors'. (I don't play tennis, so forgive me if the terminology is a little iffy.) And my favorite of them all, with credit to my wife, is that, during both, the spectators on the sidelines just watch moving their head from side to side.

A good night to all...

Today was a day of more lies discovered...

We are not in PGN. We still aren't sure when we will be. The corrections supposedly done 2 weeks ago were not. Strangely enough, I'm just disappointed more than I am angry. With that said, here's to the analogies:

Adoption is like peanut butter:
Some people are allergic to it. Some people think it's yucky. Others can't get enough. It's always very sticky. Once you get stuck in it, it's hard to get out. It doesn't work for infants. It goes better with chocolate, or at least with a milkshake.

Adoption is like fishing:
Most days, you're just sitting, waiting, and waiting, and waiting for nothing. You often don't get what you were hoping for. You don't know what you're dealing with until you've pulled and pulled for a while. Not everyone is successful at it. Sometimes your line (of communication) breaks. And in honor of yet another disappointing update today, they both usually involve lots of tall tales about what really happened.

More to come later. If I wrote all of them now, you might not come back...
Thanks for your prayers, and I hope you are all well.

Too much...

Sorry I haven't written much lately. I've been trying to lay off hounding the agency for a few days after a very trying week last week. With that said, I suppose I haven't posted much because the more I think about the adoption, the more I just want to demand explanations from them. We still have heard no explanation for the most recent apparent delay in our resubmission. Tomorrow will be a week since I last really asked, so I think it's time for some answers.

As a lovely backdrop to our own little mini-drama with just getting back in PGN, we're still dealing with the announcements of a likely shutdown/suspension of ALL Guatemala adoptions as of 1/1/08. Then today, the announcement came that the Congress in Guatemala passed the laws to definitely pave the way for this shutdown.

As if that still wasn't enough, CNN's Anderson Cooper 360, (which I had never actually watched before) did a lengthy story on the problems in Guatemalan adoptions. It's a nasty time folks. It really is. There are serious problems, but some of these so-called 'solutions' may be worse.

I couldn't even begin to try and explain it all on one post, but where I go for reliable info is still www.guatadopt.com. They are honest, open, and try not to panic folks. For some more info, you
can try 5000orphans.com - which is specifically addressing the current crisis.

I'll get to the analogies soon. I just have a few more pressing issues to handle first. I need answers from those who are supposed to be 'guiding' me in this process.

Thank you all for your interest and prayers. They are definitely needed now as much as ever.