The vice president of Guatemala, Eduardo Stein, wrote a scathing anti-adoption article for prensa libre. In it among other things he says that adopted children are "stolen" for their organs. This “organ stealing” theory was started years ago during the Civil War, when army personnel took away orphaned children, supposedly to orphanages. The indigenous population was told that the orphaned children were then sold for their organs. They are still being told by anti-adoption groups that this is the case. As chronic victims of racism, they often find... more

Apparently UNICEF Guatemala has seen the light and decided to support the grandfather clause in the Ortega Bill. Now we need UNICEF NY to publicly support the completion of Guatemalan adoptions currently in process. Apparently this is where our focus should be. So send your emails to Ann Veneman, the Executive Director of UNICEF, NY aveneman@unicef.org.

The JCICS has translated the amendment to Bill #3217 (Ortega Bill). It will be reviewed... more

Last week we saw the passing of the Ortega Law, a law that is so anti-adoption that it threatens to stop adoptions all together. Since then, rumors of important amendments to this law are rampant.

According to the JCICS (Joint Council on International Children’s Services), a grandfather clause was drafted by the Children’s Committee. However, amendments will probably not be voted on until after the November elections.

The JCICS also reported on October 5th, 2007 that the Hague Permanent... more

Although I’m not working outside the home at present, Saturday morning always feels like a day I need to kick back and rest. No running to preschool, kindermusik, grocery stores, post offices and banks; no making or taking annoying phone calls ( I heart caller ID). I also have a strict rule: unless it is life threatening, anything I didn’t get done during the week is NOT done on the weekend but carried over to next week.

Today before Miss Ella woke up, I’d finished my cup of java (always followed by a complimentary caffeine induced hot flash and/or hot sweat),... more

As we get older and have less contact with children, it is very easy to bury that child that lies within the hearts of each and every one of us; that happy go lucky, imaginative, often silly and uninhibited youngster that is a joy to have around.

I’m happy to announce that slowly but surely “my child” is being reborn, but in a new edition. You see, I was always somewhat of a worried child and in my childhood photos a serious and prematurely tense face stares back at the camera.

I can remember that I worried and fretted a lot. I was sensitive to my mother’s... more

Continued from here.

Bill 3217, also known as the Ortega Law, is the “baby” of UNICEF, the US DOS, The Hague Conference and President Oscar Berger and his wife Wendy. Originally it had a grandfather clause and allowed the notarial process, however last month the Hague Conference’s team of “experts” (and I use that term loosely) introduced many amendments that eliminated the grandfather clause, the notarial process, the relinquishment by the parents, and foster care for children.... more

I did not watch the CNN program on Guatemalan adoptions last night as Ella and I were sound asleep. I could have taped it with my DVR but chose not to because lately I’ve been too emotional about the adoption scene and can’t tolerate my own ranting and raving. However, this morning I’ve already been stopped by two acquaintances questioning the validity of what they saw on CNN.

In my opinion, parents (and prospective) parents of Guatemalan born children need to arm themselves with information and be good ambassadors for Guatemalan adoptions. When... more

When I first started inquiring about international adoption several years ago, I quickly realized that no two adoption agencies are alike. Over the years I’ve heard more adoption agency horror stories than I care to count and come to the conclusion that there are far too many unethical, greedy, dishonest, unknowledgeable and irresponsible agencies handling adoptions, particularly Guatemalan adoptions.

This last year several corrupt adoption agencies were exposed and shut down. Unfortunately, there are still many more that should not be allowed to process... more

Although I only purchased this book recently and have a toddler who keeps me busy, I’ve been burning the midnight oil reading it. It was difficult to put down. The author Nancy Leigh Tierney paints a bleak but honest and realistic description of the traumatic and desperate lives of children who take to the streets to escape unbearable situations at home or because they simply do not have homes.

A section of this book consists of interviews with young women who have lived on the streets. The rest is general information about the politics of Guatemala that... more

After a busy weekend with two delightful out of country visitors who are just like family, the house suddenly feels empty and depressingly quiet.

The thirteen year old engaged Ella in hours of fun that included playing his guitar while she danced along with a maraca in each hand doing her own unique version of the "shimmy." Ella was quite independent as she followed him around, and even let him attend to some of her needs.

His father has been part of our family since he was fourteen years old and we were a young couple of twenty-three with one child. We quickly... more