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.