We found out yesterday that we are in Family Court (we probably have been since before the end of the year). Family Court is a 3-6 week process where a social worker interviews the birth mother, reviews her situation (economic, family, etc.) and makes a determination regarding the adoption.
The interview with Sofi@ 's birth mother is scheduled for this Thursday. It should take about 3 weeks for the social worker to complete her report after that.
From there, we need to wait for the Embassy Pre-Approval. This used to take 30 days, but is now taking about 60. The U.S. Embassy reviews the paperwork and gives their "thumbs up" that they will allow this orphan to enter the United States upon completion of the adoption.
After Pre-Approval, then we enter PGN. So, based on this timeline, we probably will enter PGN sometime around the beginning of March. But, I'm not sure there will be a PGN. I think under the new law there is another process that will take the place of PGN (called the Central Authority), but I don't quite understand it yet. Also, Guatemala still has not set up the new Central Authority which is to process adoptions, so there may be a delay while we (and many other families) wait until this is set up.
Barring any unforeseen delays (and because the laws are changing, there certainly could be unforeseen delays) we would hope to have Sofi@ home by the Fall. We, of course, are holding all this with a very open hand because there are so many unknowns at this point. We are holding the timeline loosely...what we aren't holding loosely is the fact that she will come home. We are standing in faith that she will come home to us!
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Friday, January 4, 2008
Hopeful
Many friends have asked what the latest news is, so I thought I'd update my blog for all to see.
On January 1, a new law was implemented in Guatemala that will cease any new adoptions, at least for the time being. All of us who are "in process" are holding our breath to see how cases already underway will be handled. Will there be delays? Will those adoptions starting so close to year end fall through? Nobody knows yet.
The attorney handling Sofi@ 's adoption is out of the country and will return on January 7. I hope that next week we will get an update on whether he was able to get our case registered with all the proper government institutions before year end. We moved heaven and earth to get him the paperwork in time, so our assumption is we should be okay. But so much is unknown at this point. We do believe God brought Sofi@ to our family, so we are standing in faith that this will all come together.
As far as Lydi@ 's file is concerned--Ricardo called PGN today, and we were told that our file is being looked at by a reviewer, and that probably we will be back on Sr. Barrios' desk in a couple of weeks (Barrios is the last person to look at your file before you are "out" of PGN). If you recall, we were on his desk back in November, expecting to be out of PGN within days, when everything fell apart. So, we moved back a few steps. This is all okay with us because it sounds like we are no longer in minor's court being investigated (yeah!) and we aren't out on a previo (kickout). That is a biggie, because now that the law has changed, PGN is only processing cases that they are currently working on. If someone gets a Previo (kickout), PGN is not allowing those cases to be resubmitted to them. This is very unfortunate because those families are stuck in limbo until this mess is sorted out (establishing the proper departments to oversee the new process).
Prayer requests:
On January 1, a new law was implemented in Guatemala that will cease any new adoptions, at least for the time being. All of us who are "in process" are holding our breath to see how cases already underway will be handled. Will there be delays? Will those adoptions starting so close to year end fall through? Nobody knows yet.
The attorney handling Sofi@ 's adoption is out of the country and will return on January 7. I hope that next week we will get an update on whether he was able to get our case registered with all the proper government institutions before year end. We moved heaven and earth to get him the paperwork in time, so our assumption is we should be okay. But so much is unknown at this point. We do believe God brought Sofi@ to our family, so we are standing in faith that this will all come together.
As far as Lydi@ 's file is concerned--Ricardo called PGN today, and we were told that our file is being looked at by a reviewer, and that probably we will be back on Sr. Barrios' desk in a couple of weeks (Barrios is the last person to look at your file before you are "out" of PGN). If you recall, we were on his desk back in November, expecting to be out of PGN within days, when everything fell apart. So, we moved back a few steps. This is all okay with us because it sounds like we are no longer in minor's court being investigated (yeah!) and we aren't out on a previo (kickout). That is a biggie, because now that the law has changed, PGN is only processing cases that they are currently working on. If someone gets a Previo (kickout), PGN is not allowing those cases to be resubmitted to them. This is very unfortunate because those families are stuck in limbo until this mess is sorted out (establishing the proper departments to oversee the new process).
Prayer requests:
- Sofi@ 's case would be properly registered and move forward quickly
- Lydi@ 's file would move through PGN with no problems or previos and would be out SOON!
- Pray for all the families currently adopting in Guatemala. This is a nerve-wracking, heart-wrenching time for so many. Pray that God would bring EVERY LAST BABY HOME!
I am still looking at going Guatemala sometime soon, but first we need to ascertain how Lydi@ 's file is moving along. I hope to spend a week with Sofi@ Grace and and the remainder of the time (4-8 weeks) with Lydi@.
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Feeling Sad
I realize that I have so much to be grateful for, and quite happy about, frankly. We had all but lost Lydi@, and she was given back to us, along with another sweet daughter.
But tonight, I just feel the emptiness of not having them here with us. I miss them and just wish they were both home. We still don't have an update on either of our cases, so we aren't sure how much closer we are to bringing Lydi@ home at this point. We are braced for a long wait for Sofi@, but I'm not sure how I will handle the news if we discover we have to wait much longer for Lydi@.
Waiting is so hard.
But tonight, I just feel the emptiness of not having them here with us. I miss them and just wish they were both home. We still don't have an update on either of our cases, so we aren't sure how much closer we are to bringing Lydi@ home at this point. We are braced for a long wait for Sofi@, but I'm not sure how I will handle the news if we discover we have to wait much longer for Lydi@.
Waiting is so hard.
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Happy New Year
Happy New Year everyone...
It was a year ago today that we boarded a plane to visit Lydi@. We had the most tiring, wonderful week of our lives. Lydi@, only 3 months at the time, was sick the entire time (enough to warrant two house calls from pediatricians). We couldn't have imagined parenting could so fun and exhausting at the same time!
If you'd asked me at that time whether we would have still been waiting a year later, I would have insisted that was impossible. Well, here we are. Waiting. This year has been one of waiting. And waiting. And waiting.
We've both learned so much in the waiting. Things like:
- Life rarely goes just as you'd like/expect it to.
- Far more of life is out of our control than we'd like to admit.
- Life isn't about being happy and comfortable, but about being forged into the people God desires us to be.
- Whether things turn out well or poorly in any given situation in our lives, we can rest in the goodness and sovereignty of God.
So, with these things in mind...we wait. Now, not only for Lydi@, but for our sweet Sofi@. Who would have known out of the difficulty and hardship of this year God would have brought forth a second daughter?
I am so grateful this year for the friends that have surrounded us in support during this journey. I am praying that 2008 is one of great joy and significance for each of of us.
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