Guatemala Adoption Weblog

Fall Get-Together!

kfitzclark — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 18:28:23 +0000

Hello Everyone,

As you have seen in our evite. Our Fall party will be Saturday, November 1, 2008, 12:30-2:30 p.m. at Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church.

As I mentioned in this post previously, we received very little donations last party and have used all of that money for the rental fee already. We have received a couple of families willing to volunteer but we may still need help with a donation of supplies, please continue checking back with this website to see if you can help as the time for the party approaches. Thanks!

As I mentioned before, party details were being ironed out but some of a sneak preview of the events are:

First of all, we would like everyone to get their “creative juices” flowing in the kitchen and bring a fabulous dish inspired by Guatemala or Latin America to share in a potluck. Dessert will be provided and will also be a craft!

We will have crafts and activities for all ages, we will even bring in a little of the traditions from Central America. You may have already realized, we are having our party on the “Day of the Dead” or “All Souls Day”. As a part of our activities we will bring a very child friendly and age appropriate activity inspired by this day.

Finally….Back by popular demand…this will be a costume party, please bring you ghosts, pirates, and princesses for a fabulous time!

We can’t wait to see you there!

Volunteers still needed: If you can help in any of these positions please email me at kathleen@clark.st-Thanks!

- Photographer for the event. This position only asks that you have a digital camera so that we can upload these photos to our Photobucket.com account and the entire LAAFG group, particularly the children, can enjoy remembering a special day with their friends!

- Orange and White Frosting. We need a couple of premade or homemade containers.

- Paper products. Please email to check which ones we are missing.

Posted in Uncategorized

August Picnic

kfitzclark — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:57:12 +0000

Thank you to all who attended our August 3rd picnic. I think everyone had a great time and I think it was the best attended event this year!

I want to give a special thanks to Lisa and Lloyd Gottschalk they were kind enough to volunteer to help for the picnic and their help was greatly appreciated! Thank you to all who attended, it was wonderful to see some old faces and some new ones!

If you have any photos from the event that you would like to post on our LAAFG photobucket.com photo page, please email me and I will let you know how to upload them!

I will be working on the October Halloween event next. If you spoke with me at the picnic or you have decided since that time to volunteer, please email your names and what you are interested in doing to my kathleen@clark.st email.

Also, we raised only $20.00 in donations at the picnic. This money is used to secure our party rental spaces and any supplies we need. If you forgot to donate that day or would like to now, please send me an email and I will provide my address for you to send a donation.

I look forward to seeing everyone at Halloween!

Thanks,

Kathleen

2008 Summer Picnic Information

kfitzclark — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 00:25:13 +0000

YOU ARE INVITED TO A PICNIC!

When: Sunday, August 3, 2008

Time: 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m.

You may come and go from the party at any time, we will not have time sensitive activities at this party. However, volunteers will begin to clean up at 2:00, please remove or mark anything we might mistakenly throw away.

Where: Bellevue Park, 5001 S Inca Dr, Englewood, CO, Englewood, Colorado, Shelter # 2

This shelter is easily accessible by parking in the parking lot nearest the Pirates Cove Water Park and then walking down the black top sidewalk and we will be in the shelter off to the left.

Note:

Amenities at Belleview Park:
Petting Zoo
Train
Creek (bring wading shoes!)
Playground Equipment
Shelters
Please choose something to bring for lunch and we will provide dessert, plates, utensils, napkins, and drinks. We will provide capri suns for the kids, sweet ice tea, regular Pepsi, and bottled water. If you would like a drink not included on this list, please pick it up on the way-we will have a couple of ice coolers to keep things cool. Please tell us how many kids will attend (and what ages they are)
The shelter has trees and grass surrounding it. It will have tables but bring blankets if you would like to sit in the shade on the grass.

We are nearest the small wading stream. (The park suggests water shoes for children’s sensitive feet)
We are a short walk from the park’s play equipment.
We are also next to the petting zoo. For a charge of $1.00 for those children two years and older you may stroll through a farm like setting with your child(ren). They are open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
We are also next to the train. For a charge of $1.00 for those two years and older you may ride the park train conducted by a train enthusiast! The train is open from approximately Noon to 4 p.m.

RSVP attendance along with the number of children you are bringing and their ages, via your e-vite invitation by July 30, 2008. If you did not receive an e-vite please let me know as soon as possible by emailing me at Kathleen @clark.st! Thanks!

Add/Update/Change Family Information

kfitzclark — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:13:37 +0000

If you would like to receive invitations to our events or receive our periodic emails please email me at laafgroup@gmail.com with the following information and I will add you to our growing list of families! We will not share your information with anyone, it is only used to plan parties and currently I am the only one that has access to the Main Family list.

All Family Members Names

Children’s Birthdays and Family Birthdays (Gotcha Day) – This is to help us plan our parties and events.

Address and Phone Number

Email Address

How were you referred to our Group?

If you are already a member of our group and you have moved or changed any of your contact information, please don’t forget to contact me to change this information. We want to keep accurate records on family members so that we may better plan activities, also please let me know if your family has grown!

Thanks,

Kathleen Clark

Some ideas as to what to do once your child is home

kfitzclark — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:11:59 +0000

You made it!

Your child is home… now what?

Some ideas as to what to do once your child is home:

SOCIAL SECURITY CARD

One of the first things to do is to get your child’s Social Security card. When you file your income tax return, you must have a social security number for any child over 1 year old. Fill out the application for a social security card (SS-5). You can get one at the social security office or you can download a copy from the web (http://www.ssa.gov/online/ss-5.html). Then go to your local Social Security office and takes these documents with you:
* Completed application form
* Resident alien card (that’s the green card, the number was stamped in your child’s passport at the port of entry into the US; some people have successfully used the Chinese passport with the stamp)
* Original birth certificate
* Adoption decree
* Identification for you
The office won’t keep the documents; they’ll just record that they’ve seen them. The Social Security card will come in the mail and your child’s status will be that of resident alien. After getting citizenship, return to the Social Security office and change the status from resident alien to citizen. For this trip, take the citizenship papers and the original Social Security card along with your own identification. Your child will keep the original Social Security number, only the status will change.Â Note: Sometimes this step is slightly different dependent on the office you visit, since the Citizenship act some offices make this change differently and your children may never be seen as a resident alien they will have their status as Citizen from the beginning.

CITIZENSHIP

To apply for citizenship, request form N-643 (Application for Certificate of Citizenship in Behalf of an Adopted Child) from INS. Call your local INS, the INS forms line (800-870-FORM), or request it the web (http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/exec/forms/formsbymail.asp) or download it (http://www.ins.usdoj.gov/forms/download/index.html). The documents needed to file for citizenship are:
* child’s resident alien card
* child’s birth certificate
* adoption decree
* evidence of name change, if applicable
* evidence of US citizenship for adoptive parents (even if only one of you is a US citizen, you can still use form N-643)
* marriage license of adoptive parents, if applicable
* divorce decrees for any previous marriages
* 3 identical passport-size photographs – or as close as you can come to identical since most shops have cameras that take 2 photos at once
Although the instructions state that the cost is $85, it’s really $80 and there will be a delay if you send in the wrong amount! In about 3 or 4 months, you’ll receive a notice to come to INS to pick up the citizenship material. Some offices have ceremonies; others do not. You’ll have to surrender the alien registration card when you get the citizenship material – unless you lose it (HINT, HINT).

If your family plans to travel outside the US before your child is a US citizen, have available at all times:
* your child’s Guatemala passport
* your child’s green card
And remember when you make your travel arrangements to tell the travel agent, the airline, etc. that your child is a Chinese citizen. You may have to get a visa for your child to enter the country you plan to visit.

BIRTH CERTIFICATE

This is easy in Colorado and some other states. Very difficult in others. Some states seem to require re-adoption to get the birth certificate. Check with your state’s Vital Records office for information.

PASSPORT

To get a passport, you’ll need:
* certificate of citizenship
* application for the passport
* your identification
* passport photos
Take everything to the passport office along with $30 for the passport and money to pay the clerk. The certificate of citizenship will be returned to you along with the passport. Children’s passports are good for five years.

REQUEST FOR THE RETURN OF ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS

This is INS Form G-884. Once you get your child’s citizenship, you can file this form to receive the packet that you left with INS when your child first entered the US. Submit this form with two legible copies of the following documents:
* alien registration card
* birth certificate
* citizenship certificate
When you send copies, you’ll need to sign that they are true and accurate copies just like you did when preparing your dossier. You’ll also have to submit proof of your relationship to your child because you’re submitting the request on her/his behalf. Your notarized signature goes on the back of the form. You must specifically list what documents you want returned to you: medical report, copy of adoption decree, abandonment certificate, and you can try for “anything else pertaining to the INS visa application of the adoption of….”

YOUR WILL

Your will is one of the most important documents you’ll ever sign. Here are five critical don’ts to consider:
* Don’t put it off until later.
* Don’t do it by yourself.
* Don’t rely on it solely.
* Don’t put it away and forget about it.
* Don’t put it where no one can find it.

INSURANCE

Don’t forget to sign your child up with your health insurance plan. Do it as soon as you can after returning home. Many insurance companies require that your inform them of a change in family status within 30 days.

LAAFG Photos

kfitzclark — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:10:34 +0000

Photos:

All 2005 and current photos are located at the following website:

Photobucket

You may view under the folder LAAFG.

If you have photos you would like to add to the folder, please login using username:LAAFG and password:(Call Us!). If you have any problems uploading please consult the tutorials available or email me with questions.

Home Page for L.A.A.F.G.

kfitzclark — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:07:43 +0000

Welcome to the

Latin America Adoptive Family Group’s

NEW Website!

We are a volunteer association of adoptive families committed to aiding families who have adopted or are planning to adopt from Latin America by providing social, educational, and cultural activities, charitable events, and a network of support for a family’s adoption journey.

Reading List – Books

kfitzclark — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:06:43 +0000

Books (that relate to Adoption) for Children

It’s Okay To Be Different – Todd Parr

I Love You Like Crazy Cakes – Rose Lewis (New York: Little, Brown, and Company, 2000).

We Wanted You – Peter Catalanotta

Hello World – Manya Stojic (Multicultural)

Books (that relate to Guatemala) for Children

The Perfect Pinata – Kelly Kyle Dominguez (ISBN 0-8075-6495-8, published in 2002) – (The subject of the book is a 6 year old’s birthday celebration which includes tamales, rice and beans and buneulos as well as the pinata – Bilingual).

The Most Beautiful Place in the World – Ann Cameron

Hands of the Maya: Villagers at Work and Play – Rachel Crandell (2002)

The following list is courtesy of Caroline Callison Tiffin, Attorney at Law, International Adoption from Guatemala

Over The Moon – Karen Katz

The Rainmaker – A Tzutuhil Maya Story from Guatemala – Michael Richards

The Most Beautiful Place in The World (author unknown)

My Name is Ana Maria and I Live in Guatemala – Judith Oltrogge

Children of the World Series – “Guatemala” – Ronnie Cummins

Peacemakers Series – “Rigoberta Menchu” – Judith Conaway

Trouble Dolls – Suzane Simons

Rain Player – David Wisniewski (Re-telling of Mayan story)

Un Poco De Todo Sobre El Tejido Maya – Friends of the Ixchil Museum (great activity/information book about Mayan weaving)

Remember This – Paula S. Rowan (really hard to find but a great story and beautiful art)

The Corn Grows Ripe – Dorothy Rhoads

Out of the Dump – Edited by Christine Franklin and Nancy McGirr (this is the book/group that the website www.fotokids.org is about)

The Sleeping Bread – Stefan Czernecki & Timothy Rhodes (A Guatemalan folk tale)

Magic Maize – Mary & Conrad Buff

Popol Vuh, A Sacred Book of the Maya – Victor Montego

Quetzal, Sacred Bird of the Cloud Forest – Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

The next 5 are from the 50s and 60s, I believe:

Eyes for Chico – Mary Coxhead

The River Horse – Nina Ames Frey

Santiago – Ann Nolan Clark

Panchita – Delia Goetz

Letters from Guatemala – Delia Goetz

Two neat bilingual coloring books by Elizabeth Bell:

Conozcomos La Antigua

Conozcomos Nuestras Tradiciones en La Antigua

Another coloring book, also bilingual, but really, WAY too nice to color:

Maya Arts and Crafts of Guatemala – Marilyn Anderson

These are not specifically about Guatemala but wonderful nonetheless:

San Rafael, A Central American City Through the Ages – Xavier Hernandex, Jordi Ballonger, Josep Escofet

Somos Un Arco Iris (We Are A Rainbow) – Nancy Maria Grande Tabor (Another Antigua “find”)

Mayan Weaving: A Living Tradition – Ann Stalcup

Angela Weaves a Dream – Michele Sola (wonderful book set in Mexico, about a little girl and her weaving)

Arroz Con Leche – Lulu Delacre (Latin American children’s songs)

The Little Seven Colored Horse – Robert D. San Souci (Latin American Folk tale, gorgeous book!)

Days of the Dead – Kathryn (About the Days in Mexico, but translates to Guatemala!)

Mama Provi and The Pot of Rice – Sylvia Rosa-Casanova (About a Puerto Rican grandma and the meal she cooks/gathers for her sick g.daughter; pretty neat for younger kids)

Trouble Dolls – Jimmy Buffett & Savannah Jane Buffett; not really about Guatemala but a neat book about a girl and how some trouble dolls help her save her dad when he is stranded on a river

The Colors of Us – Karen Katz (same one who wrote Over the Moon); great book about skin colors, comparing it to foods and spices, really nice)

Charity Organizations

kfitzclark — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:06:12 +0000

Charity Organizations

Heifer International - Heifer’s approach to providing global assistance to struggling countries has been characterized by long-term development, rather than short-term relief.Â After immediate needs for food, shelter, fresh water, clothing and other necessities have been met, HeiferÂ works within communitiesÂ to empower disaster survivors with the economic means – such as livestock, training and other resources – to rebuild their families, theirÂ neighborhoods and their hope forÂ sustainable futures.

The information on this site is provided “as is”. We can make no absolute certification of accuracy or reliability of information or services. The information that we provide comes from many different sources, and is, to the best of our knowledge, accurate. We are only providing a listing of charities that we know have made a difference in Latin America and bear consideration if you are making a charitable donation to any organization.Â If you have suggestions for a charity, please email administrator.

Home Page for L.A.A.F.G.

kfitzclark — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 21:04:20 +0000

Welcome to the

Latin America Adoptive Family Group’s

NEW Website!

My family has grown! We welcomed home our third child, a baby boy, Dane Patrick home in March and with that new addition I REALLY need help keeping up with activities with our group! I would really like to see the Group stay as active as it has been in the past. If you are able to find a couple hours here or there to help us plan events please email me! Thank you!

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I am in the middle of planning a party at Bellevue Park for our Group in August. If you have time or a talent that you would like to volunteer for this event please let me know as soon as possible!