And Presentation Date is...

My goodness! It has been quite a 2 days! On Wednesday morning we were on our way to St. Louis to see John's brother and family. Bethany approved us to get our visas since we were passing through Chicago...and while we were at the Colombian Consulate (love this appt...the moment you walk in the door you literally feel like you stepped off a plane and landed right into Colombia-we saw Silas in action wanting to use his 2 word Spanish sentences to everyone that would listen)! We thought we'd have a nice long weekend because there was no way we'd hear from Bethany until next week, and probably not travel until the following week...that is what we were told from our Colombian Rep...yah, that is so not how it went...Does it ever go as we have planned or thought?!

No, way more exciting...the phone rings we couldn't get to it because we were in the middle of going through all our documents with the Consular...John said, "Is that a Bethany #?" First thing that goes through my mind is "put a hold on our visas, we're not going until after Christmas..." John takes the call, and instead..."BOOK YOUR FLIGHTS FOR THE 2nd...Los Pisingos would like to PRESENT THE GIRLS ON THE 3rd!" Oh my goodness...instant tears stream down my face, John's mouth is wide open (John's a planner, a processor, it takes a few days for something like this to sink in)...Isabel is doing a little dance, and Silas is in his "thinking about it again" attitude! Oh, Si Guy, not to much time to think...it's happening in less than a week!!!

So, we had to book our flights (which was a challenge-Colombia is a popular destination around the holiday season) while in Chicago...we still drove to St. Louis and had a great time with the family, before we quickly turned around today and came home...whew!

It's going to be a crazy few days at home before we take off at 6am Weds. morning! But, once again, dazzled by our loving God, who heard our prayers and is so good and kind to give us our hearts desire! All Glory to His Name!

Christmas in Colombia?!

Yes, Yes, Yes...it is looking more and more like we will be celebrating Christmas in Colombia!! We just heard word today that we are 1-2 days away from receiving our Article 5. Our Colombian Representative, Isabel and Carmen, have been going to the US Embassy frequently checking on it in the last 2 weeks, and today it finally arrived in the processors hands! Isabel emailed me this morning saying "enjoy your Thanksgiving...and start preparing for a Colombian Christmas!" She would not say that if she did not feel confident we were on our way...With the Thanksgiving holiday it may not be approved and translated until next week, but, then it can go to Los Pisingos, they can approve it, and give us a travel date! So either the first or 2nd weekend in December is looking more promising for us to travel! We are beyond excited!! Tomorrow we are going to Chicago to get our visas and then head to St. Louis to spend Thanksgiving with our brother and sister-in-law!

It has been a ride...God continues to show us that He is in the details, even when things feel so out of our control (which they are), He cares for our girls more than we ever could, and He is never late...His timing always perfect! So, without a travel date yet, and without our final approval...we press on...trusting in the One who is orchestrating our way to our hijas...His girls...not early, not late...right on time! I can't stop crying tears of joy! Glory to His Name!

A la Familia de Vander Maas...con el Amor!

To the Vander Maas Family, with love, Tia Isabel! Yes...this is Marta (now 18 months) and Caroline (almost 4) taken today at Los Pisingos! Oh God knew we needed this today! After a week of nothing from the US Embassy, and another phone call saying "check in again next week!" I was feeling the blues for our situation...and then I open my emails and another personal note (Isabel is our Colombian Representative-we are not "officially" supposed to have contact until we are in Colombia, but, she knows us well from our previous adoptions, and has been our best advocate, going the extra mile for us!) Thank you God for Tia Isabel, and Los Pisingos (who clearly "prepared" the girls in getting them all dressed up so they could send pictures to daddy and mommy)! Please keep the girls in your prayers...they are ready for us, we are ready for them! The sooner the better for all of us, including Isabel and Silas...it will be nothing less than a miracle if we travel yet this year!

A Glimpse at Los Pisingos

Los Pisingos Foundation is like family to us! It is where Isabel was cared for the first 8 weeks of her life, Silas, the first 9 1/2 months of his life, and now Caroline and Marta the last 16 months. It is a foundation that is about the child, not the parental rights, or the waiting adoptive families...it is about the child, and what is best for that child. They understand that every child needs to be in a healthy family, and they give their best efforts into finding or returning their children into the home that is best for them. Although an institution, it well organized, meticulously clean, and the children are shown much affection while being housed there.

You might think of an institution for the orphan, or a "safe house" for the abused, neglected, under privileged children to look a lot different...where you would see malnourished, underfed, under clothed children. This is not the case at Pisingos. Just seeing what they feed their kids is remarkable to me. A typical lunch would be fresh salad, rice, and lentils, with freshly squeezed juice. This is seriously made fresh each day. They eat lots of pudding for dessert (we think that's why Silas came to us so "rollie-pollie"), and a typical snack would be something like a "mango smoothie"...you wouldn't see anything like spaghettios or mac-n-cheese. They even spoon feed the little ones, not owning highchairs, but, feeding each one individually on the caretakers lap. They separate the kids by age. Newborns, infants, toddlers, etc. up to age 12. They are currently housing very many children, it is very full.

With all that being said, Los Pisingos is still an institution. It is not a home. Not a family. Yes, it is a safe place that houses broken and fragile children, but, it is not the same as a family. Each one of these little children are "alone." They don't have a daddy or a mommy to tuck them in at night, or to be by their side when they are sick...they have themselves, possibly a sibling, and that is all.

Below are a few recent pictures taken by my dear friend Gayle Knibbe. (Caroline and Marta are not in them...they did not know about them when they toured Pisingos). As I share these pictures with you, please pray over the caretakers and children of Los Pisingos!

Below is our Colombian Representative through Bethany, Tia Isabel, loving on a little boy at the foundation. See his face light up to her touch!


I just received an email from her. She said, "I hope you can come asap. I just visited LP and saw your girls. They are so very cute, and they need you so very badly! Each one received 4 kisses. One from Daddy, Mommy, big sister, and big brother!"



Yes, God does set the lonely into families! His heart is for the fatherless! If His heart is, than shouldn't our hearts be also?! We are so privileged that our God chose us to parent 2 more precious children, His children...who He loves more than we ever could! Soon...very soon...



"Sing to God sing praises to His name! Lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts, his name is the Lord, exult before Him! Father of the fatherless, and protector of widows is God in His holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home...Blessed be God!" from Psalm 68

I800 Approval thru NBC...on to NVC!

Yay! We FINALLY received I800 approval from the National Benefits Center. It does not mean we can set up travel plans yet, but, it does mean one more step through moving us toward our girls! Our I800 approval now is being cabled to the National Visa Center in Colombia in which they will contact the US Embassy for a few more forms we filed with our Colombian Represenative. Once the NVC and the US Embassy approve us, then we go to Chicago to get our visas, and travel! The NVC, from what I hear can work really slow, or process quickly...it will be determined by them on whether or not we get to travel yet this year. We remain hopeful, but, the clock is ticking...it's too new of a process with the Hague to be able to predict how it is going to go...so, we continue to wait, and pray that in a few weeks we are united with our daughters!!

October - "Feelin' the Zeel"

October was a very full month...a month where we hit the ground running, and never stopped! I could journal about the disappointment of still not having our I800 approval for Colombia, but, we trust that is just around the corner...or I could write about how difficult it is waiting to meet our hijas, the wait has become an agonizing process for me...but, God is in this, and I trust Him completely to why we are here and not there right now! So, I'm going to focus this entry on the many highlights of the month...as it is one of my favorite months in our new hometown of Zeeland!!

We definitely are "feelin' the zeel!"

Our favorite parade in Zeeland (they have many) is the "Pumpkin Parade," during Pumpkinfest Weekend. The El Puente preschoolers of ZCS road on the wagon. Silas thought it was his moment to becoming a "star." Seriously, he asks me often how he can get on TV, and I think he thought the crowd came out just for him...ay!

This month my Dad and Mom celebrated their 45th Wedding Anniversary! They are the most amazing parents! They have left a legacy for our family of their love for Jesus, the love of their family, and the love they have towards others. They live out the Gospel everyday, starting in their marriage and taking it toward everyone they come in contact with! They have huge hearts for the "underdog" in life, the gift of mercy, and helping others! They also have the gift of encouragement and are always sharing their testimony of the goodness of God, whether it's in good times or difficult! I pray John and I can carry this legacy on to our own kiddos!




We celebrated their special day on a Sunday afternoon at my sister's house. Life gets crazy, so, it is difficult getting us all together, but, when we do, it's always a fun time! Isabel thinks the world of her cousins, Ally and Cate!



Silas loves being around all his big boy cousins! They always include him and make him feel so special. Below he is hanging out with big cousin, Taylor!



Ahhh...and then the day finally came. MOVE DAY! 28 E CENTRAL AVE! Here we come...Our home was not quite complete (still working on the kitchen) but, we were so ready to move in. We had unexpected helpers, as my nephews football was cancelled...dear sisters Marcy and Kim worked all day with me, keeping me focused in all the craziness...






...my big strong nephews were workers, too! Running things in the house, as the rain was pouring down! I love you guys!

And my really big strong brothers, Curt and Kevin, helped get all almost all our big pieces up the tight stairway!! We couldn't have done it without them...

...a few more people who blessed us were the VandeWege's, Brent for helping John, and Melinda watching the kiddos! For my mom and dad who helped clean, clean, and clean...from the dark dreadful basement, to the condo's dirty bathroom. For Dad VM who was busy hanging door knobs, or whatever else John needed to make things function for us, and for my moms, and dear friend, Courtney, who brought over yummy meals that lasted over a week!

After a few years of building and selling -we've moved quite a bit, simplifying our lives, and paying off all our infertility/adoption dept...we have landed!! 28 E Central is HOME and it feels great (even among all the boxes and chaos yet of remodeling)! God has been so good to us, as we have moved toward Him in obedience! This town is amazing, not more amazing than other towns, amazing because we know we are where we need to be...and with that comes great enjoyment and reward for all the efforts of getting here!

So, we've already been having loads of fun in our neighborhood with our new neighbors! And let me tell you, Central Ave. is a fun place to be on Oct. 31!!! Isabel and Silas had a blast last night!

Izzy dressed as a "Groovy Girl" and Silas as a"Pirate!"

Daddy had so much fun walking the streets with the kids and the neighbors. He was so smiley and said "I have to pinch myself...I love this place!" He's been working so hard, he's hardly had time to enjoy it, but, last night he took it all in, and to, is almost "giddy" that this is where God has brought us as a family!

Below is our sweet neighbor friend, Sage. Silas is not in to girls at all, and only likes the "boys" at school...but, when it comes to Sage, we have seen nothing like it. Yesterday for an hour, yes an hour, he sat and was looking out the girls bedroom window to see if Sage was coming out to play. Yikes! Good thing Caroline and Marta had to take what was going to be his bedroom!!

One of the great things we discovered about living in the city is that you can rake up your leaves and leave them on the side of the street! How easy is that!? We had a fun afternoon of raking, and the neighbor girls and our kiddos had fun jumping in the leaves!

We're going to miss Izzy's toothless smile. Not to much longer and her big front tooth is going to poke through!

So ends the month of October. Although it was a blur, I'm sure we will look back and have fond memories of the many great things God allowed us to experience. We look forward to the next few weeks of wrapping up the inside remodel and getting settled in...ahh, we can catch our breath and breath...and Lord willing, if our adoption paperwork gets approved next week (as we are told), there is a chance we could also be packing our bags for the next chapter in our journey...Oh God, please bring us to our girls soon! You are ABLE and we are READY!