1 Samuel 1:27 For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him

Levi

Levi

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!!!

Saturday, September 29, 2007

Teeth!!

Just wanted to post that we rec'd a progress report this week from Guatemala and Levi has 2 teeth coming in (we knew they were close when we were on our trip 2 weeks ago). He has started eating vegetables, cereal, black beans and rice (yes, I know I wasn't happy about that one either), and soups. I was a little panicked when I read all the different foods he'd had since we were just there for our visit and he wasn't on anything except for formula. He goes back to the doctor next week, we're anxious to see how many pounds the the new foods will pack on ha ha! We have had contact by email with his foster mom with a translator twice this week so, we feel good about having somewhat open communication with her now (aside from the language barrier) to keep up with all Levi's milestones. She has been showing him pictures of us in a baby photo album we sent him and letting him hear our voices on the stories we recorded so he'll remember us. We miss him so much! We can't wait for the call to make some travel arrangements back to Guatemala. Until we hear more from him, Tracy (aka mommy)

Friday, September 28, 2007

IN NEED OF YOUR PRAYERS!!

Hey, I just wanted to post that we need all of you, our friends and family to continue to lift our adoption up in prayer more now than ever before. This week the State Dept issued warnings that after December 31st due to laws changing in Guatemala, they would no longer be grandfathering in any cases still pending under the old laws but, be stopping all intercontry adoptions to the US at that time. We are in the last leg of this long and difficult journye and are still joined together believing God will have Levi safe and home by Christmas but, we're "in the flesh" a little and also aware of the current uncertainty in that country. The Guatemalan President currently in office announced yesterday that he would be stopping all adoptions to the US on January 1, 2008. Those of us in the adoption world are certainly going to fight with everything we have in us that this is not allowed to happen by our government. We were issued an apporval that stated we could adopt back in May after we rec'd the referral of Levi and we entered into a contract expecting them to honor what they have promised us all along. We know as I have said over and over that God is in control of our timeline and our adoption. He's had a hand in this since long before we ever knew we'd take this long journey to finding Levi. He's waiting for us in Guatemala where his foster mom shows him pictures of us and plays our voices for him on a voice recorder everyday to be sure he knows we'll be back for him. We need your help praying and signing the petitions we forward you and most of all contacting any representative you can on our behalf and for all the 5,000 babies already referred to their forever families through adoption and currently in process. Please email us if you would be willing to simply sign and mail a copy of letters we have already prepared to your representatives in Congress, who are at this point our voices to the Guatemalan government to allow us to complete our adoptions under the laws we started the process with. I will keep you posted here as we learn more about the current situation. Until then, join me in believing and claiming in Jesus' name Levi will be home before this deadline is even a factor for us. We love you all and appreciate all you do to keep us sane during one of the hardest things we've ever encountered, adoption. They told us in the beginning, adoption is not for the faint at heart and I believe that now more than ever. I have trouble lately focusing on anything except for getting our son home and having this all behind us. God didn't bring us from Steve being in a wheelchair this time last year to where we are now to let something happen now. we just have to turn it over to Him and "Stand Still". **For this child I have prayed and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of Him 1 Samuel 1:27**

Thursday, September 20, 2007

Update/Prayer Request

Hey, just wanted to post and ask everyone to keep Nancy, Isaac's mom and dad in your prayers as they left this morning to go to Guatemala for another visit trip. This time they were taking the grandmothers to meet Isaac. They were excited to be going back but, we need to cover them in prayer as they travel today. I sent Levi some new outfits and a baby photo album of us so he hopefully will not forget us until we go back for pick up. I rec'd an email from Tammy, our agency director this morning and she is going to let me know when our case if officially in PGN. We're waiting for the social worker's report to be picked up to be included before we can be officially submitted into the last stage of the process. Pray for a quick submit and a quick exit. Hope by Christmas, that is our prayer. Thanks for all your support and prayer as we head into the last leg of this long difficult journey.- Tracy (aka Mommy)

Friday, September 14, 2007

WE HAVE PA!!!

Hey, just wanted to post and let everyone know we rec'd our pre-approval for Levi's visa from the US Embassy last night. This couldn't have come at a better time since we are still broken hearted about having to leave Guatemala from our visit trip just a few days ago without him. That was by far the hardest thing either one of us has ever had to do. We miss him so much we just can't stand the thought right now. God has blessed us once again in moving us forward in this process into the final stage. Our friend Nancy has also moved ahead one step closer to bringing Isaac home too. My heart does go out to their foster mother if she loses them both at the same time or close together she too will be broken hearted. We are praying hard everyday for them both and claiming they'll be home for their first Christmas. We know God is in control as I have said many times over so, we'll continue to trust in Him to lead the way. We hold our faith in God not any government official in Guatemala. Until we hear again, keep us in your prayers. This final stage is unpredictable as to how long it will take but, we have God on our side and know this adoption is covered in prayer right now more than ever. We're overjoyed today just to know we're one step closer to getting back on that plane to bring him home for good.- Tracy (aka mommy)

Thursday, September 13, 2007

WE'RE HOME!

Hey, just wanted to post and let everyone know we made it home safely from our visit trip early this morning. First of all, for those of you I promised I would try and post everyday while we were there, I apologize for only posting once that we made it OK. I was just so busy and consumed with being a mommy I couldn't find the time to do it. We had a great trip and were so thankful for the memories we'll hold forever of the time we were able to spend with him bonding. He is just simply perfect for us and it seemed like everything fit perfectly for the 3 of us as a family. He is a wonderful baby and he is just so happy all the time it's amazing. He goes to sleep smiling and wakes up smiling. He never cries unless he's wet (which he absolutely hates) or hungry. Otherwise, he's all smiles all the time. He amazed us how smart he was at 4 months to mimic what we would do and to try and push his diaper off if it got wet. He also loves cartoons but, we found it hilarious that he doesn't watch commercials! He and daddy have that in common- ha ha! We were just in awe of him and things were just great! We had a really hard time leaving him there though. It was by far the hardest thing either one of us have ever had to go through. I know it's nothing any other adoptive parent hasn't been through on their trip but, we never knew it would have been as bad as it was. We were not prepared for the overwhelming emotions we felt walking away. We have to have faith in the Lord that he'll bring him home on His timing and will continue to be in control of our adoption. We are so blessed that we cannot thank Him enough for what He's already done for us. Please keep us in your prayers and Levi and his foster family. His foster mother seems to love him too and we are thankful she shows him so much love until we can bring him home forever. Keep my friend Nancy in your prayers too as she goes to visit Isaac, Levi's foster brother this coming week. We're hoping for our pre-approval from the embassy this week or next. Nancy rec'd hers last week so, we should be close behind her. Praying for a speedy trip through the final stage of this process, PGN once we have that approval. Lots of love and thanks- Tracy (aka mommy)

Saturday, September 8, 2007

HOLA FROM GUATEMALA!!

Sorry I didn't get the chance to post like I said I would try to once we got here. We had a great flight and were so nervous to get off the plane once we got here and I don't know where the time went from there (well, I have a good idea). We had a horrible airport experience that scared me to death. But, man did Steve step up to the plate and took full control of the situation. Thank God because I was about to lose it and I am sure it was starting to show after a few minutes. We had some mix up with our escort/translator meeting us there when we landed. She said she was given the wrong time for pick up (we think what happened had something to do with the time difference) We were pointed out (literally) and they talked about us being lost. We were put in quite a bit of danger being there without her. After we had paid 4 different people tips to push around our luggage looking for our sign "Bradley" we paid the last teenage boy a tip to chase down the Marriott shuttle as it went by. We hadn't made prior arrangements for the shuttle but, he drove us to the hotel. That drive with him was an experience in itself but, luckily we made it without an accident. I have a feeling had he hit someone or something he would have backed up and went on anyway. He was in one of the large vans and went over top a stack of bricks at the airport construction site like we were in a SUV. He killed the engine from hitting it so hard but, he never slowed down. He came right across it, grabbed another gear and started back blowing his horn and cutting through traffic. I have ridden in a taxi in Mexico which I thought was crazy but, this guy topped that. Anyway, we got to the Marriott and called her and she said Levi would be to us soon. We paced and finally got the call she was downstairs. we were beyond nervous but, as soon as we rounded the corner it was a bur from then on. He is absolutely wonderful. He is a happy baby and never cries unless he's wet (which he hates), hungry or needs something. Otherwise, he's playful, all smiles. He was just in awe of Steve's voice from the very first words he spoke to him. Every time Steve spoke he'd smile. We noticed last night too when you mention Isaac's name he starts kicking and laughing and breathing fast... he gets so excited. Isaac is my friend Nancy's baby, their foster brothers. We are so glad we got to make this trip because we'll treasure the memories forever. It has been awesome for us both. I knew Steve was going to be a good daddy but, he's amazed me too. He's catered to Levi and I since she brought him to us. I haven't made the first bottle. he's doing great and I think he's enjoyed every second of it. Well, until I get the chance to post again, I better get in bed. Levi gets a bottle every 3 hours so.. I'm catching naps when he does. He's been a little congested with a cold I guess. He's got a little cough off and on but, if he gets worse we'll take him to the doctor before we leave. Keep us all in your prayers and maybe say an extra special one for me to have the strength to make it through giving him back to his foster mom on Wednesday. Reality is starting to set in that this is just temporary and we do have to leave without him in a few days. I cannot maintain composure at the slightest thought of it right now so, I don't know what the next few days are going to hold. I really am trying to prepare but, will have to rely on prayer to get me through it. Until next time, love and blessings- Tracy (aka..mommy)

Wednesday, September 5, 2007

Waiting.......Waiting.......

Less than 2 days until we leave for Guatemala City to meet our son, Levi. I find myself just staring off into space wondering what he will be like. How will he react to us? Will he cry for the foster mom who has taken care of him since his birth? Will he feel the love that we already have for him? If he cries, will I be able to comfort him? The questions keep piling up and I only have a couple of days left until the answers come.

I hope that you all will keep us in your prayers, but most of all, that you will keep Levi in your prayers. I can't imagine what it would feel like to be taken from the family you have known since birth and given to a couple of strangers for a week.

God touch this baby boy and his foster family. Let him feel that he is safe and loved at all times. Keep him from danger and work all of this out according to Your Will, Amen.

I Love You Son,
Daddy