Memorial Day Fun

Me and Sophia













My Sister Jeanine, Peter and Sophia













Brian, Peter and Justin













Sophia













Brian and My Brother Joe

Great Day

It's a great day at the Johnson house! We received the news today that we were in PGN and have already been kicked out. Our paper work was fixed and we are set to go back in by the end of May. Our social worker said once we go back in it could be anywhere from three to nine weeks until we are approved, that is if we don't get kicked out again. All I know is that I am happy to be moving and have some information! Guatemala here we come!

Still Waiting

We are still waiting to hear from our attorney to find out if we are in PGN. I am praying we are at least in. I know it's a long wait once your in, but it would be nice to get started. I hope all of you are well.

Out of Pre-Approval

Hi All,
After weeks of unanswered emails to the Embassy, I took it upon myself to contact Minnesota State Senator Coleman's office. I found a website that said sixty days after receiving official confirmation that your paperwork has been submitted for pre-approval notice, his office can make a status inquiry to DHS in Guatemala to confirm that they have received our adoption case.

Yesterday I received this response to my email

Dear Ms. Johnson,

Your pre-approval notice was issued on April 4th and finally was picked up on April 25th. USCIS Guatemala noted that it is waiting to receive your final documents in order to continue with the adoption process.

Regards,

Tina Leone
Office of Children’s Issues
Bureau of Consular Affairs

We are still trying to figure out who "picked up" our papers and what the situations is.

On a positive note we are hopefully moving into PGN soon! Keep us in your prayers!

Waiting for you

Everyday I wait for you, it gets a little harder. Will we ever be together? Everyday people ask me when your coming home and my heart sinks. I wish it were today, but I know it will still be a long time. How can I calm my heart when it is racing to be close to you. I so desperately want to be with you. It pains my heart for you to be half way across the world, waiting for papers to hit the right desk. I hope we will get some good news soon.

May Update

Today was a good day. We recieved new pictures of Cameron. He is now 16lbs 11oz. Enjoy the new photos!

Do you believe in miracles?

We recieved a letter from church on Sunday. The letter was titled "Do you believe in Miracles?" It was written by a friend of ours who found out on Friday that her baby will be born with Spina Bifida. In her letter, she writes that her baby has a fifty percent chance that she will wheelchair-bound and have trouble with bowl and bladder control.

She also writes that she is praying for a miracle. She prayed, "I don't think I've ever asked for a miracle before, and I don't ask for me, I ask for her, but please please take this burden for her. Let her walk as other children walk."

My eyes welled up with tears as a read her letter. I feel blessed that Cameron is healthy. He will walk, run, skip and jump like the other kids. I thank God for my miracle. I wait for the day I will hold him and kiss him and show him all of the miracles life has in store for us. Sometimes as the waiting seems endless, it is easy to forget the tiny miricles God has already blessed us with.

Please keep our friends in your prayers. We pray that we will know how best to support their miracle. We rejoice and pray for them and the special blessing that this little girl will be in the lives of so many.

Emotional Throwing Up

We had our Pastor over the other night for a talk. We had not had much opportunity to sit a talk since my Mom died. It was a necessary visit. I was able to, as he termed it, "emotionally throw up all my pain". It's funny that this is the term he used, because when my mom was here and was worried about us, she would call and say, "I throwing up over here" and she would literally get sick to her stomach if something was wrong with one of her kids.

I have felt so disconnected from some of my family and family friends. When my mom was alive I would hear about all their lives and kids. Many people are uncomfortable talking about pain or loss with people who are grieving. I guess this is why they choose not to call or write. It was nice to have Pastor Dan over and pour out all my sorrow and pain without being told to think a certain way or have the feelings I have. It was painful but necessary for me to "emotionally throw up."

I want to know when my pain will end. I want to know how to say goodbye to my mom and accept the fact that Cameron will not know her. I want to know when my tears will turn to joy, and I want the road to bend.

Still Waiting for Pre-Approval

Hi Everyone ,
We are still waiting for pre-approval from US Embassy. We had a conference call today with our adoption counselor. She said that our attorney wants us to continue to send weekly e-mails to the Embassy. We have sent two so far and continue to pray that we will be approved and move into PGN soon. We thank all of you for you encouraging words of support while we wait. I am so excited that Cameron will be surrounded by so many wonderful people. Blessings to all of you.