I wish everyone working on adoption policy could have joined us at he US consulate this morning. An entire room full of recently united families with beautiful black haired children would easily convince any skeptic of the joy of this process. The foreign adoption process weeds out weak parents and leaves parents who are fully invested. I think of society's broken families that are sick that a few people's bad choices could end so many happily-ever-after-families. We were particularly grateful to have the help of Leticia . She is a beautiful woman with a pure heart and charitable motives.

After our consulate appointment, which included a lot of waiting, Cooper and I had our first solo adventure to encontrar (to find) tortillas. How nice to be able communicate, even minimally enough to ask directions, find a tortilleria, order, pay and get ourselves home! Luis came to pick us up and we were on our way to Antigua.

Antigua is beautiful! The city is 8 blocks by 8 blocks with cobblestone roads and thin sidewalks. Each home is painted a different color. The mountain jungles are incredible, dense and green around the outside of the city. We spent all afternoon tasting new foods, shopping in the mercado, and meeting new people. We could not stop smiling.

Marcos has had absolutely no problems with the adjustment. He was immediately attacked by Cooper and Wilson and was in seventh heaven. He is a serious, curious boy, who hardly ever cries--When I carried him through the streets of Antigua with my "guatamalan blanket" wrapped around me, he slept like a baby. When he was awake he was ready for more adventure. He loves people. He does not like to be alone. He has been babied and we appreciate it. --When we met Lorena, who has been loving and taking care of precious Marcos since he was born, she was so sad. Once she met us it helped, but she was still sad. She could not stop complimenting Marcos on how good of a baby he has been, and that she would miss her "frijolito". --And she is right. He slept 8 hours, and he loves to eat, and play. What a marvelous thing that our Father in Heaven has given us, our fifth miracle. We could not be more appreciative. The only greater joy we will feel is when we seal him in the Temple, to truly finalize the adoption-forever.

We also had a chance to taste more of the guatamalan food-it is so flavorful. Our boys have loved it. Wilson said in response to a question about how he liked the food, "When can we come back to Guatamala?"

We miss Eliza, and Max -- We look forward to being together- as a complete family. There is no question in our minds that we will return to Guatamala. The only question is when. The people are beautiful, and we feel a strong pull, or obligation to return.