Levi Douglas Bradley: July 2007

Our Adoption Story

Levi was born on April 21, 2007 in Chinautla, Guatemala, a small town known for pottery. He weighed 6.7 pounds and was 19.7 inches long. He was in private foster care in Guatemala City where he lived for 10 1/2 months with his foster mom, her son and daughter and Isaac, his foster brother. Throughout our difficult adoption journey, Isaac's mom, Nancy and I became very good friends. God placed our boys together and had the perfect plan in place long before we ever realized it. When I was undecided on an adoption agency, I joined an online forum where Nancy provided me with information about her agency and recommended them to us. We decided to sign with the same agency and I emailed Nancy back to let her know. Over a few months we emailed back and forth to learn we were both from TN and lived only 30 minutes apart... we thought wow, it's a small world. Little did we know a few months later we'd both get referrals, earlier than we expected, of 2 beautiful Guatemalan angels. When they turned 2 months old our agency called and decided it was time to tell us that they were in the same foster home together and had been since they were 1 day old. We were amazed they were together. Even more so, God amazed us once again when we learned shortly after that they were born on the same day and were from the same town... no longer a coincidence that was for sure. We were being told by the foster mom how attached they were and acted like brothers. But, Nancy and I got the chance in January '08 to go to visit them and see it for ourselves. It was an amazing time of bonding with our boys that we will never forget. After that trip it seemed when one of us would reach a roadblock in the crazy process of international adoption the other would be delayed with something else. We stayed right together until the very day we picked them both up. We had our US Embassy appts the same day and we flew home through Atlanta on the same flight on March 11, 2008 when they both entered the US as citizens! It was an awesome time for us in the Atlanta Airport when we rec'd the congrats they were official! We've made friends for life with Nancy, Eric, and with Isaac's extended families. We look forward to many years of watching them both grow up so close together. Over the past year, as we went through battle after battle to bring our boys home, Nancy and I both would never think of one without the other in our endless prayers to keep them safe, happy and healthy until they could be home with their forever families. We're finally parents and it's what we've both waited for, for so many years.. our families are finally complete!!!

Friday, July 27, 2007

Blessed

What a beautiful grandson I have!! The Lord has answered our prayers and has blessed our family beyond measure.We are so thankful for little Levi and can't wait until he comes home. I am going to cover him with hugs and kisses and hold him ever so close. I pray the Lord will watch over him and keep him safe. I love you sweet baby boy, Levi. Mamaw

DNA MATCH!!!

Just wanted to let everyone know we got the results we've been waiting for from DNA testing (Levi and birth mother) and they were a confirmed match. We should get the paper results in the mail tomorrow and it'll include a photo of them together at the time of testing. It will be the first time I've gotten to see her photo. The next step is to have the results logged in at the US Embassy and await approval from Guatemalan govt for the adoption to proceed. This process takes 45-60 days. After that we'll enter our final stage of the process. We're still hopeful he can be home for his first Christmas. I'll have new photos to post this week so... we'll see how much he's changed in just a month. Until tomorrow. Praise the Lord for answering another prayer today for positive DNA results.- Tracy

Thursday, July 19, 2007

DNA

DNA has been done so we're now waiting for the results, they tell us 2 weeks but, I know many have been getting them sooner. Praying for a match and to have one more step behind us. We're working on plans for a visit trip in September and of course still pressing on with the fundraising. At the time of my post, my friend Nancy should be touching down in Guatemala. She is on her visit trip to meet her baby, Isaac. He is with Levi in the same foster home and she has promised to try and get a glance at Levi for us if nothing else. Hopefully, she make it out with a picture or 2 of he and Isaac together. Boy do we have some stories to tell them. Until, I know more, we'll keep praying. - Tracy (A.K.A. Levi's mommy)

Monday, July 9, 2007

Waiting for DNA

Well, our credit card was charged Saturday, July 7th for the DNA so, hopefully his birth mother will make it in soon for them to have it drawn. We're anxiously awaiting the results. If all is well, and we're believing it will be, we can go visit him soon. We can't wait to just be able to hold him and see him in person and check him out from head to toe! He'll be sick of seeing a camera by the time we leave I am sure.- Tracy (Mommy)