We are thankful to be home!

He doesn't know yet that dogs pee on these

The day after getting home we headed to a new park nearby. Erick loves steering wheels!



There were still a few leaves left for us to play in :)




Strolling around the neighborhood with Grandpa Glade after Thanksgiving dinner

It's GREAT to be together!!

I can't believe it's finally here. There is truly no place like home! We had such a nice welcome at the airport and it's seems like it's been a celebration ever since then. Even if it's just the three of us cuddled on the sofa reading books or watching cartoons, it's been a celebration.

Erick has jumped right in and hasn't seemed to have skipped a beat. He's met so many people at church, family at Thanksgiving, friends at work and holiday gatherings, and has given out hundreds of kisses and high-fives. We've decided he's going to be a politician.

Life at home has definitely been an adjustment for Pat and I both...still in a good way. Although I've been with Erick for the last 10 months, it's different having him in our house at my feet all day! I'm learning that it takes alot longer to accomplish any one thing around the house, much less several things. And I've started the clean-out process. I remember a few moms who fostered in Antigua returning to what seemed like a ridiculously jam-packed house. I'm feeling the same way. It's been hard to unpack suitcases of STUFF when all my closets and drawers are already packed with STUFF! So I'm going at it, hard core, these next few weeks. Our pastor always talks about the unhurried, simplified life. I want to get better at both of those.

I'll probably go back to work part-time in January. In order to take care of Erick, Pat and I have cut back on our schedule at work and will share a full-time schedule between us. It's really like him working full-time and me being home, but we'll each work part-time. On the days I work, Pat will be home with Erick, and vice versa. It's one of the fun things about sharing the same profession!

The Lord has blessed us tremendously with the experience of this whole adoption process and with little Erick. As long and hard of a journey as it has been, we wouldn't trade a second of it for having our own child. It's made our marraige even stronger and it's allowed us to share our story and struggles of infertility with other couples going through the same. We've learned so much about the joys of domestic and international adoption and will be huge proponents of adoption. Not to mention, we have one of the cutest darn little boys ever! Much cuter than the two of us could have produced :) Do I sound like a proud parent?

Several years ago I learned Psalm 37:4, "Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart." We started trying to get pregnant in 2000 and just assumed our little "desire" would come quickly. God had a different path for us, but he kept his promise. He didn't answer our request for a family at the snap of our fingers, but asked us to be patient and faithful. Isaiah 55:8,9 talks about how God's ways are so much different than our ways. "As high as the heavens are from the earth, so are My ways higher than yours," says the Lord. Time after time we have personally seen Him deliver in our lives and the lives of friends and family. He has taken us on an amazing journey. We pray that He has been and will continue to be glorified through our lives and Erick's life.

As far as I know this is my last blog entry....at least for a long while. Thank you all who have followed our journey and have been supportive of us. Thank you for all of your prayers!! WE ARE HOME AND HAPPY!!!

Oh, and also...

.....we have had a few requests as to our flight info. We will be flying in on Continental(out of Houston) at 3:20. We would love to see anyone who would like to welcome Erick but completely understand as it is in the middle of a workday.

We're outta here!!

Aside from the runny nose and diaper shot, can you read the shirt? It says "I'm oouutta here!" Thought it was appropriate for today :)

This was the last time we'd have to skype daddy(last week)! It's great to have him here in real life and not on computer screen anymore!


Sorry we haven't posted updates this week(for those who are interested). Pat got here Sunday and we spent quality time with my mom before she left Tuesday. We had a great time together and celebrated her birthday at McDonald's...complete with a candle in the pancake breakfast. I was trying to post her birthday picture but the internet is extremely slow tonight and after an hour the pic still had not downloaded. Sorry mom. It was great to spend you birthday with you!

Then we had 36 hours of no electricity. Then we had to make two different trips to Guatemala City to the US Embassy and just today got our visa allowing us to go home! Nothing is expeditious in this country. We got everything done just in time as we are going to be able to fly out tomorrow!!!! We had booked our flights with some "buffer" and thank goodness we did.

It was VERY difficult saying goodbye to Maria(our babysitter) and Virginia(the house manager). They both loved our children very much and not only was it a sad farewell, but now Maria does not have a job. Jobs are hard to come by here. It was a real tear jerker.

It's getting late and we have to wake up at 3:30. Erick has been sick with a runny nose and has been a little cranky.

Thanks again and again for all of the prayers and support. We have a wonderful family, church family, friends, etc., etc. and feel VERY blessed to say the least!

SO, SEE YOU ALL VERY SOON!!!

God bless,

Lee Anne

Message from the Whitworth's

Hi all, this is Emily reporting for the Whitworth's! In true Guatemalan style, the electricity is down in the house in Antigua until tomorrow, so Pat called and asked me to post a note for them.

Lee Anne talked to the embassy today and they assured her they are still holding a spot for her on Wednesday. This means that the Whitworth family comes home on Friday!! Pat said Lee Anne is so excited she couldn't even take a nap today!

I know I am only one of many who are so excited to see them HOME! Personally, I can't wait to squish Erick's cheeks. Out of all of the boys in the house, he has the best cheeks!

I think we have pink???

Everyone talks about getting "pink." It's sad that I don't know what it exactly is, but I think it's a pink slip the embassy gives you at your final exit visa appointment. Or it's when they notify you of your appointment, something like that. Anyway, the embassy is reserving a visa appointment for us for next Wednesday, pending all of our paperwork being at the embassy today. And it was, although some just made it to the mailroom today and the embassy was actually closed. So, not really sure how that works, but I'm assuming we may be "PINK!" All of the adopting moms shriek at that word. I won't shriek quite yet.

It's good to be at this point, regardless of whether or not we make our flights on the 21st or not. The last few days were stressful, being told our paperwork wouldn't be there on time, or that we weren't going to get an appointment, etc. And most of the employees at the embassy speak in rapid Spanglish so conversations can be tough. So I've spent hours making calls to FedEx and the embassy trying to get things squared away. The big blessing is that my mom has been here this week and has given me great physical and moral support. She calmly set a coke on ice on my desk as I was having a fitful phone call with FedEx and several times I practically threw Erick at her as I dashed for the phone so as to not miss an important call. Moms truly are the best! Thanks, Mom! Not to mention, we've had some fun shopping.

Where I was going with that last paragraph is that the stress we often put ourselves through, usually just isn't worth the anguish. If we are here a few more days, it'll really be OK! That's that many more days of 80 degrees and sunny! It's good to be at the point of decisions being out of my hands. I've done what I can and the rest will be fine.

So...Pat gets here Sunday and that's the last time he'll have to leave Erick and me! It'll be a great week. Thank you, everyone, for your post, encouragement, and prayers. I can't wait to get home and hug everyone!

And then there was one....

The "other" Whitworths left us on Nov. 2

Angie & Milo headed back to London on Nov. 3

Emily & Samuel left for KC yesterday and are back home now :)

and now it's just ME!

but I have a passport that says Erick Whitworth and I'll be home soon, too!

Happy Halloween!

flying kites in Santiago on "Day of the Dead"

Gretchen & Ana, Emily & Samuel, Angie & Milo, Shane & Marilyn Whitworth, Beth & Rachel Ann, Amy Whitworth & Noah (in front), LA & Erick. On our way to see the kites.

I'm VERY thankful...

...my family will be home for Thanksgiving! And it looks like possibly the weekend before Thanksgiving! Darn the luck, I have to be in Guatemala no later than 10 days from now to be present for an Embassy appointment. Jimmy will laugh at me but I had no idea that I needed to be present at that appointment which will be(should be) the 17th, 18th, or 19th. Lee Anne informed me of that tonight. After that we can fly home two days after that Embassy appointment. Details to follow. Lee Anne and Erick had a rough couple of days traveling back and forth to Guatemala City, waiting, dealing with unbelievable beuracracy, unbelievable apathy on "those in power", and they are both very exhausted. Erick, to say the least, is 100 miles per hour all waking hours and it can take a toll. I'm sure most of you parents are just smiling right now. Anyway, they are coming home soon! We were just hoping before Christmas so we are very thankful it will be by Thanksgiving.

Tonight has been the best night I have had in a LONG time. I found out that news and 5 minutes later at my door was Ruthann, Craig, and Zac Robinson. Craig has been putting up a couple of walls in our basement and drywalling them so Erick has a great place to play with all of his new friends, and old friends(Samuel, Paulo, Otoniel, Cyndi(spelling?), and Caterin(spelling?). I know he will love chasing after Keegan and Keely Huff and many others. Anyway, while Craig was putting up walls, Ruthann, Zac and I got busy clearing out Erick's room to be painted. Aaron and Kari Connole have offered to paint the room and put up curtains(they're in our Life Group). Ruthann organized Erick's closet and Zac and I moved furniture. It was a GREAT night. For the first time I allowed my mind to imagine Erick running around the house, playing in the basement, and a home filled with fun and excitement. I couldn't allow my mind to go there prior to tonight as there have been so many unknowns this past year.

It has been a great night. Thank you to everyone who has offered to help in any way they can. Thank you Sallees, Courtneys, O'Connors, and Connoles for giving us clothes for Erick to wear. Thank you everyone who has offered to help in any way that you can(even if I haven't taken you up on it...yet). Thank you all for your prayers. Thank you Lord. Thanksgiving.

Almost to a passport

view of Volcano Agua from our street

hospital where Erick was born in Tiquisate

countryside on the way to Tiquisate

fountain inside La Merced, the largest Catholic church in Antigua

La Merced


We got out of RENAP today, so will be picking up several copies of Erick's new birth certificate on Monday! It was a big surprise as this step took about 10 days, when sometimes it takes weeks. We should be able to work toward getting Erick's passport next week, then we are really on the home stretch. Pat's timeframe for getting that honey-do list done and the house cleaned up is getting shorter! Hopefully this means we will be home for Thanksgiving.

We have an exciting next few days: Saturday we are taking a van load of moms to a nearby town to a kite festival. It's an old Mayan tradition celebrating Day of the Dead where they fly huge, colorful kites. I guess the kites are sending up messages to the spirits or something crazy like that. It's a very photographed day. The weather has changed from rainy most days to clear, much windier, and cooler at night.

Monday morning Emily and the other Whitworth family both have their final Embassy appointments and will be leaving Guatemala later that week. Angie and Milo also leave Monday to head back to London after being here almost a year. It's interesting to see the pool of foster moms in Antigua quickly shrinking!

Jimmy was here for the weekend and made his final departure from Antigua today. Sad to see him leave, but Emily and Samuel will be right behind him in a week or two!

Maria, who helps watch our kids some during the week, and her family cooked and brought over a "farewell feast" last night. She has a wonderful family (all 13 came!) and has been a huge blessing to us. She is in the white blouse at the far end of the table.

me and the boys

I guess I'm now in the "moms with playdates" category. It's really not such a bad thing :)

Samuel and Erick have matching pj's. We thought it'd be cute to do a photoshoot. They weren't nearly as excited.

Another step closer

We began the RENAP/birth certificate process yesterday. This starts with having to go to Erick's birth town, about 2 hours away, getting documents signed, and returning them to Guate City. Too much time in the car for Erick, so I left him with our sitter and made the journey to Tiquisate. There really aren't many tourist hot-spots in Guatemala, but the countryside is beautiful and lush. Tiquisate is lower in altitude and down toward the south coast, so has a definite warmer, humid climate. Not much there to see, but I got a peek at the hospital where Erick was born. It was inside a guarded gate and I snapped a few shots, then was asked to leave. I can't imagine that I looked too threatening, but it's probably not too common for whities to be in town taking pictures. I was on the lookout for his birth mother and secretly wishing I'd see her, she'd be pregnant with a little girl, and stop to ask me if Erick needed a little sister. Selfish thought, I know :) Didn't happen anyway.

I may be holding down this fort by myself soon. Angie, Emily, and the other Whitworth family are all at about the same spot in the process and probably leaving in 2-3 weeks. Yeah!! (not that I want them gone, just want them all home!) Erick will wonder where all of his playmates went! My mom is coming Nov 4-18 to keep us company for awhile. That's all for today!

More Whitworths

Erick, his new cousin, Marilyn :), and Samuel

A new adoptive family of 4 from South Carolina moved into our house last weekend, which has added some excitement... and coziness! We have all met, had meals together, viewed many a Baby Einstein video together, but yesterday I about fell down the stairs when I overheard the mom on the phone, "hello, this is Mrs. Whitworth..." They're Whitworths, too! How random is that that they would be adopting here and living with us? There can't be too many baby Guatemalan Whitworths around. They're adopting 2 year-old Marilyn who is so incredibly sweet, calm, and quiet. Baby girls are SO different than boys!





We are officially out of PGN now. We said that two weeks ago, didn't we? There was a computer failure at PGN and they were finished w/ our case, but wouldn't allow any files to move in or out, so our file just sat there. Really? Is it rocket science to have an alternative method of logging files that come and go?? Could you just WRITE IT DOWN in the meantime and not keep people waiting unnecessarily? It was a hard last two weeks of waiting, not being able to comprehend a government agency being down that long. Living here, it's easy for fear to creep in and wonder if you are being told the truth or if you are being set up for a bribe, etc. Apparently it was the truth and lightening took out part of their computer system. They are slowly moving files through again. I have to remember I'm in a third world country.



Yesterday, before finding out we were released from PGN, I was feeling frustrated and "stuck" and talked to a good friend, Beth, who has been here over a year. She has a true servant's heart and alot of endurance. She reminded me that God's timing is perfect and not to focus on the end date of getting home, but to enjoy Christ daily in Antigua. It's things like this that I KNOW, but I drift away and get bogged down by the adoption process or being away from home. I'm trying!



A funny story--I share a bathroom upstairs with Angie and we've been fighting to keep our toilet unclogged for about two weeks now. I'm OH SO TIRED of walking outside and downstairs at 3am to use that bathroom! Today was the third time our plumber has been here and they finally unglued the toilet from the tile, set it outside, and got in there to do some really dirty work. A little yellow, plastic car was clogging it. Not sure if the culprit was Erick or Milo so we're splitting the plumber's bill :)



Emily had to go to Guat City this morning for some appointments and wasn't feeling well with a stomach bug. I went w/ her to help take care of Samuel and ended up getting sick, too, in a garage parking lot and then tonight at home. Our "new" toilet was fixed just in time! Amy, our new housemate, was feeling the same today. Must be a virus. Be glad you aren't a visitor here this week! Sorry if that's TMI...just part of our daily fun here in Antigua!

Strolling in the rain

Erick and Paulo getting to know each other

Caterin and Cindy Embrey on Cindy's "out of PGN" day

bubble fun at our house

Go Royals!

We had a great week with Pat here. Hopefully his next visit will be our pick-up trip for Erick and me! I think Erick is starting to wonder why his dad is here sometimes and on the computer screen sometimes (we skype every morning on the computer).


Todd and Nicole Harris are here this week visiting Paulo so we are getting to hang out with them. It's a tough job being their Antigua tour guide and taking them to all the good places to eat :) They are just a little behind us in the whole process, so hopefully will be home around the same time we are. It's great to think about Samuel, Paulo, Otoneil, Cindy, Caterin, and Erick all being in KC together!


We have been out of PGN for a week, but now are waiting on their computer system to be up and running again to be officially released. They have been down for a week! So different than being at home where tech support would have had things going again within 30 minutes! It's OK, we are getting good at waiting....and waiting. Our next step after PGN will be RENAP where they draft a new birth certificate for Erick.


We are still looking at probably 8 weeks at the earliest to be home so Thanksgiving isn't looking so good. All's not so bad, though, as I've found a "flyin' Mayan burrito" here with sweet potatoes in it. I'll just pretend it's sweet potato casserole :)


Isaiah 40:31 ...but those who hope (or wait) upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not grow faint.

We're finally out of PGN!

We had a great day yesterday as we are now "out" of PGN! So in the eyes of the Guatemalan government Erick is officially our son. Lee Anne and Erick should be coming home in the next 8-10 weeks! Hopefully sooner!

I'll put some pics on in the next few days. Gotta run now....

Bimonthly update :)

pre-haircut: my punk rock baby

post-haircut: much more boring, but needed!

locals packing the streets for Independence Day parade

runners carrying the torch

It's been a little slow here the past few weeks so not much news to share. We did check out some parades for Guatemalan Independence Day last weekend. Mostly highschool bands playing and flags flying. The Guatemalans were out in full force! There were several groups of runners carrying a torch around town, kind of like the Olympic torch runners on a smaller scale. Needsless to say, many firecrackers during the day and night. It's amazing how our kids are used to that now and can sleep through the loudest fireworks, yet wake up at the creak of a door!



I'm excited to have outings this week: tomorrow I go back to PGN to find out where our case is and try to shed a tear or two in front of them, Thursday Emily and I go to Chichicastenengo to go back to the big outdoor market and to check out this mission/orphanage, and best of all Pat comes on Friday!!



The Embrey family, comes on Sunday for their pick-up trip for Cindy, who just turned 11. They are also adopting her sister Caterin, 8, and hope to plea their case while here to get Caterin home as soon as possible. PGN seems to be softening a bit and will hopefully see the need for the girls to be together.



Emily has been here 6 months and I've been here just shy of 8 months. We are so ready to come home to be with family and friends. I was listening to an old Chris Tomlin song yesterday with the lyric "time is in His hands." It's hard to be away, but our families have been blessed to have this time with the boys. We will look back on this journey and realize what a short time it really was.

The 3 men in our house snacking on pineapple cores--a favorite

Hey everyone! Sometimes it seems there can be a fine line between wanting to sharing a story and sounding self-righteous. I certainly hope I didn't sound self-righteous in the last post like I was looking for a pat on the back or "way to go." I do think it's important to encourage one another by sharing how or when God moves us. Lisa commented on my blog that if we would all focus on helping one person for awhile instead of feeling overwhelmed with need that we see, what a difference we could each make in peoples' lives.



Emily had an idea to make "homeless bags" of like granola bars, fruit, and a few coins to keep in our strollers for when we are out and about. It will be fun to put those together.



It's another beautiful day in Antigua-- ~78 and sunny with a chance of rain this afternoon. That's the forecast for most months of the year!

God has really laid someone on my heart these past few weeks. He's a homeless guy who I frequently see walking around town or sitting on a bench in one of the parks. I think he has cerebral palsy, he has a large scar across his face, and walks hunched over with a limp. He is someone who definitely be considered "the least of these" by many people.



A few weeks ago, Pat and I took some lunch and clothes to him and tried to ask a few questions. We got his shoe size and think he was saying his name is Rolando. We were wondering how often he gets called by his name or when the last time was. He took one of the shirts we brought out of the bag, took his shirt off, and walked over to the trash and threw it away. Our hearts just broke. He is physically challenged, but at least on some level, mentally alert. I am sure he was aware that he had been wearing a soiled, smelly shirt for quite some time with no means to wash or replace it. The pants he was wearing barely had a backside to them.


I found some leather boots in his size and took them to him last week. I had a feeling he would have trouble getting them on and he did. There was a moment of thinking, "ok, I'm being stared at by alot of Guatemalans now, but I can't just leave him to figure the shoes out." So I parked Erick in the stroller and helped Rolando get his filthy, sockless feet into the boots, praying the whole time that they would fit and be comfortable. I saw him again today and he still had the boots on. In our limited ability to converse, he said they were good.


Every day we see people in Antigua sitting on the sidewalks holding bowls out and asking for money. It's hard to know who to help, how much, how often. There are elderly Guatemalan women, men with physical handicaps, and several young women with a baby or child sitting beside them. The babies and children are so quiet and still. I imagine that's a learned behavior from unmet need, that if they cry they either get in trouble or get no response at all. That's how they grow up--sitting beside their mom on a sidewalk all day in the exhaust, dust, noise, and sun.

One of my prayers since I've been here is to find out where I can serve or who I can love on like Jesus would do. I think I'm being asked to spend time with Rolando for now and to continue to help others where I can. It's a good feeling to have that nod from the Lord and to be given a nudge from the holy spirit to MOVE.


On the adoption front, we had a kick-out from PGN for only about a week and a half for a numerical error on some paperwork. We are back in PGN now, and hopefully are all clear. We've been told we should exit PGN in the next week or so and be able to move on to getting Erick a new birth certificate. Timewise I'm still hopeful for Thanksgiving, but won't be surprised if we have to eat turkey in Antigua.

Have I mentioned how much I love Erick?? He's such a delight. He's learned to yell, "MA MA!" loudly and frequently. He gives the best smacking kisses on the cheek. And he's all boy. The other day he picked up a live bee, pulled it in half, and proudly brought it to me. We are having alot of fun and can't wait to be home with Dad!

Thanks again to all of you for your prayer and encouragement! Lee Anne

Erick and the boys swam in make-shift pools at our babysitter's house
Tuckered out Samuel at the pool

Erick loved the outdoor showers at the beach!

Samuel's party with Emily's homemade Texas sheet cake

Just a cool building on the square

We have a previo or kick-out from PGN, but it should be a quick fix. It was a numerical error on some paperwork for the birthmom. Our US attorney says we should hopefully be out of PGN in a few weeks. After PGN, Erick's birth certificate has to go through an organization called RENAP (an acronym for something) that I think just basically delays the processing of all birth certificates for adoptions! This has been taking around 2-7 weeks. Lastly Erick has a final DNA test and we apply for his visa. If everything goes smoothly that puts us wrapping things up around Thanksgiving. Maybe. If I'm not home, y'all better be sending down some stuffin' and sweet potato casserole!

Erick's new word is "shoes," or really it's "sshhz." But he does point to shoes appropriately and tries to put them on his our my feet. And he's getting good at pointing to nose, mouth, eyes, etc. He's climbing on and over furniture. He's hooked on the neighbors' trampoline and we can't walk by now without him pointing and getting super excited to jump on it. There's the Erick update!



I looked at videos of him that we took when we first got down here and he has changed so much already! He's more of a toddler than a baby! Ok, this is sappy, but I was teary watching him babble and goo. He was so trusting of us as total strangers. Wow, time flies!

Erick's first trip to a beach!
He was a little scared of the waves.
I thought this little girl looked a lot like Erick...what a cute couple!
Alice(Lee Anne's hilarious housemate) and her daughter Izzy(Isabella).
A picture of Lee Anne's "mother's day out". If anyone ever would like an incredible vacation at very cheap prices...Antigua Guatemala is the place to go(other than airfare now being around $800). Once you get there it is very cheap with some of the best restaurants I have ever been to. Oh, and the weather is always perfect outside of rainy season(June, July, and September).

Hope to get more pics on later...

Above is a picture of Erick's birthmom and his (assumed) 1/2 brother.
Erick sporting his Croc's that the Bunde's gave him. He loves wearing them.
All the kids from the house wearing their denim.
Pretty Izzy who has a VERY sweet disposition.
Samuel telling everybody that he is 1 year old!